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Elevating country preparedness and readiness at the core of the mpox response in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Cairo, 12 January 2023 – The spread of the mpox (monkeypox) outbreak has been limited in the Eastern Mediterranean Region with 10 countries reporting 80 laboratory-confirmed cases and one associated death, mostly correlated with a travel history to areas where the outbreak is steadily circulating. From the very inception of the mpox outbreak in...
Launch of the Regional Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean
Cervical cancer is one cancer we can actually eliminate: it’s time to do it 11 January 2023 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean formally launched today the Regional Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean at a hybrid press conference hosted by WHO leaders and joined by...
Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Afghanistan, Women’s participation in aid delivery must continue
The decision by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to ban women from working in humanitarian non-governmental organizations is a major blow for vulnerable communities, for women, for children, and for the entire country. Female staff are key to every aspect of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan. They are teachers, nutrition experts, team...
WHO leading the humanitarian response to the escalation of violence in Sudan’s Blue Nile State
WHO team conducting interviews with IDPs to assess needs and gaps at Alqasam IDP Camp, Damazine locality, Blue Nile State, Sudan. 6 November 2022. Credit: WHO20 December 2022 – A recent wave of conflict between 2 rival camps in Sudan’s Blue Nile State – Hausa and Fonj-Hamaj – has reportedly led to 300 people killed and another 236 injured since...
IAG reaffirms commitment to addressing current and emerging public health challenges in the Region and beyond during ninth annual meeting
13 December 2022, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – At its ninth annual meeting, the Islamic Advisory Group (IAG) reiterated its commitment to addressing current and emerging public health challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond and using religion to dispel misconceptions around public health. This year’s IAG meeting was hosted by the...
Saving lives and limbs: WHO scales up its trauma response in Somalia
WHO Trauma Operational and Advisory Team (TOpAT) visits the emergency unit in Madina Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia. WHO/Sara Halimah 11 December, 2022, Cairo – Somalia witnessed one of its worst mass casualty incidents with the double bomb blast on 29 October 2022, which resulted in more than 117 civilians dead and over 344 injured. Approximately...
Cholera further exacerbates vulnerabilities in Syria
8 December 2022 – Since the first case was declared on 6 September 2022, cholera has spread to all 14 governorates in Syria, adding another grim chapter of human suffering in the war-torn country. Between 25 August and 26 November 2022, over 52 013suspected cholera cases and 98 deaths were reported across Syria, with Deir-ez-Zor, Ar-Raqqa,...
WHO Regional Director’s statement to the press for International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day
11 December 2022 – Good afternoon and welcome to today’s press briefing on the occasion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, which is held annually on 12 December. UHC Day is an official United Nations-designated day marking the anniversary of a unanimous decision seven years ago to endorse universal health coverage as an essential component of...
Universal Health Coverage Day: building the healthy future we want
8 December 2022 – To celebrate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day on 12 December and in line with the theme of this year “Build the World We Want: A Healthy Future for All”, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is organizing a meeting on primary health care (PHC) for universal health coverage (UHC) and health security in the...
2022 in focus: With recent floods and drought impacting health in several countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO warns that extreme weather will lead to extreme disease
Cairo, 7 December 2022 – While responding to multiple concurrent emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO has simultaneously extended massive support to 5 countries in the Region affected by climate change in 2022 – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. With environmental and climatic risks responsible for around 23% of the...
