I would like to welcome you to this media briefing ahead of the Seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean which will convene between the 14 and 17 October in Doha, Qatar under the theme Health beyond borders: action, access, equity. As you will be aware, this year’s session – my first as Regional Director – is being...

3 October 2024, Oman – World Health Organization Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy visited the Sultanate of Oman between 30 September–3 October, where she met with H.E. the Minister of Health Dr Hilal bin Ali Al Sabti and other senior officials and participated in the First Omani Healthy City Conference in Salalah,...

30 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The Eastern Mediterranean Region faces a huge burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Region’s frequent humanitarian emergencies –including conflicts, natural disasters and public health crises – place enormous strain on health care systems, making it particularly difficult to...

1 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – This year’s International Day of Older Persons, celebrated annually on 1 October, adopts the theme Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide. People are living longer, and while the trajectory of each person’s life is different, older people are more...

Pakistan Trachoma Elimination Project: mass drug administration. © WHO 1 October 2024, Islamabad, Cairo, Geneva – In a monumental achievement for public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has validated the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Pakistan. Trachoma is a disease caused by infection by the Chlamydia...

26 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – On World Heart Day 2024, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean joins the global movement campaigning under the banner ‘Use Heart for Action’ to empower individuals to take responsibility for their heart health and advocate for stronger national cardiovascular health action plans. Cardiovascular diseases...

WHO believes the number of attacks is likely much higher than what is currently verifiable Cairo, September 24, 2024 - The number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan since the onset of the armed conflict in April 2023 has exceeded 100, with 108 incidents verified by WHO until mid-September. WHO believes that the number of attacks is likely...

18 September 2024  – Today marks 100 days since the arbitrary detention by de facto authorities in Sana’a of more than 50 personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions. In addition, four UN staff members have been detained since 2021 and 2023. Attacks on humanitarian workers, including detentions...

Childhood cancer survivor from Syria, Yazan, 20 years old23 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Yazan is a 20-year-old Syrian who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma as a child. The conflict in Syria and resulting humanitarian crisis meant that Yazan struggled to access treatment for his cancer, and he received little support from his school and...

19 September 2024, Amman, Jordan – The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for becoming the first country in the world to be officially verified as having eliminated leprosy. This significant milestone marks a new era in global public health efforts. “WHO congratulates Jordan on this impressive...