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Statement on Afghanistan by Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
18 August 2021, Cairo, Egypt — The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to staying in Afghanistan and delivering critical health services and calls on all parties to respect and protect civilians, health workers, patients and health facilities. During this difficult time, the well-being of all civilians — as well as the safety and...
Egypt receives third batch of 1 766 400 AstraZeneca vaccines through the COVAX Facility
To increase vaccination rates in Egypt the Ministry of Health and Population has opened more than 400 vaccination centres in the past few months CAIRO, 16 August 2021 – Egypt has received an additional 1 766 400 COVID-19 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in a third batch of vaccines delivered via the COVAX Facility. This delivery will provide an...
Statement on COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
2 August 2021, Cairo, Egypt – As of 31 July, WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region has reported almost 12.6 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 236 000 deaths. Many countries are reporting a substantial increase in the number of cases and deaths over the past month, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan,...
Delta variant sparks current COVID-19 surge in the Eastern Mediterranean Region amid low vaccination coverage
Cairo, 29 July 2021 – The circulation of the Delta variant is fuelling the surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths in an increasing number of countries in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. It is now being reported in 15 out of the 22 countries of the Region. The Delta variant is becoming the dominant strain of the virus in several of these...
Hajj 2021: Successful and safe hajj season during the COVID-19 pandemic
Cairo/Riyadh, 29 July 2021 – As the hajj season for 2021 concludes, WHO’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean acknowledges the efforts of Saudi Arabia in successfully implementating health and safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic resullting in no cases of COVID-19 or other illnesses reported among pilgrims. “This year’s hajj came...
WHO opens country office in Bahrain
26 July 2021, Manama, Bahrain – Today, WHO officially opened a country office in Bahrain. Located in the capital city of Manama, the new office is the 20th WHO country office to open in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the 152nd WHO country office globally. The office will enable WHO to work on the ground with national health authorities,...
Statement on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha feast by Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
18 July 2021 - As we approach the Eid al-Adha feast, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my brothers and sisters in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond a blessed, safe, and healthy Eid. Over the past 19 months, our lives have changed in ways we never could have imagined. As individuals, communities, countries, and as...
COVID-19 situation critical in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region
13 July 2021 – After a decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths across WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region for 8 consecutive weeks, several countries are seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths. Significant increases in COVID-19 cases have been reported from Libya, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, and Tunisia. Lebanon and Morocco have...
Bahrain successfully vaccinates almost 70% of population with 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine
13 July 2021 – More than one million people in Bahrain have received 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, ensuring that almost 70% of the population is now provided with an additional layer of protection against the virus. The vaccines were provided to people in the country free of charge and regardless of their citizenship status, in line with WHO’s...
WHO joins World Mask Week to keep the world safe from COVID-19
World Mask Week is a global movement to emphasize the critical role of continued masking in reaching the end of the COVID-19 pandemic 12 July 2021, Cairo — WHO’s Easter Mediterranean Region has joined forces with the Pandemic Action Network and partners in support of World Mask Week, July 12-18, 2021. Masking in public, particularly, in crowded...
