Urgently needed medicines and medical supplies delivered to east Mosul
Erbil 15 February 2017 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has responded to an acute shortage of medical supplies in the newly retaken areas of Mosul by delivering medicines and other medical supplies to 16 primary health centers, one hospital and the Directorate of Health (DOH) in Ninewa. The donation will support treatment of patients with...
Urgent routine immunization services to resume in Ninewa
Erbil, 15 February 2017 – After over 2 years of suspended routine immunization activities in Mosul and the surrounding districts, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, have trained 30 vaccinators from the recently taken areas in east Mosul and Salahuddin to help revitalize routine immunization...
Historic commitment from African Heads of State to advance immunization in Africa
31 January 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Today, Heads of State from across Africa endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization, also known as the Ministerial Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization, a historic and timely pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa – regardless of who they are or where they live – receives the full benefits of...
Efforts ongoing to provide trauma care to people in need in Mosul, Iraq
Cairo, 25 January 2017 – As the conflict in Mosul intensifies and greater numbers of civilians are caught in the crossfire, WHO and partners have increased trauma care services to ensure that patients requiring medical care for injuries have a greater chance of survival. However, additional funds are needed in order to provide a full scale of...
Mahmoud Fikri appointed as Regional Director for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region
24 January 2017 | Geneva – The World Health Organization’s Executive Board, currently holding its 140th session in Geneva, has appointed Dr Mahmoud Fikri as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, following his nomination by the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in October last year. Dr Fikri will take up his...
WHO responds to increasing health needs in Aleppo, Syria
4 December 2016 – As the conflict in Aleppo intensifies, WHO and partners are providing lifesaving services and health supplies for thousands of people fleeing to safer areas. More than 250 000 people in besieged eastern Aleppo city are facing dwindling supplies of food, medicine, water and fuel. All ten of eastern Aleppo’s hospitals are closed...
WHO releases latest health access report for the occupied Palestinian territory
29 November 2016, Gaza – On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, marked by the UN since 1977, WHO launched a 2-year report on health access today at an event in Gaza to highlight how the Israeli permit system and physical barriers obstruct health access for Palestinian patients, ambulances and health...
World AIDS Day 2016: “Dignity above all”
1 December 2016, Cairo – “Dignity above all” is the regional slogan of this year’s World AIDS Day, celebrated every year on 1 December. This year’s campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean Region calls on all stakeholders to work together to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in health care settings. The campaign is...
WHO denounces false reporting regarding Iraq
20 November 2016 – On Friday 18 November 2016 WHO issued a press release strongly denouncing a claim recently published on the "Aswat Hurrah" (Free voices) website on so called illegitimate marriages during religious ceremonies. The claim that this information was released by a WHO headquarter’s communications officer is completely erroneous. WHO...
WHO denies false claims recently published
18 November 2016 – WHO denounces the false information published on the "Free voices" website on 17 November 2016 claiming that one media official in the Organization made a statement regarding marriage during religious ceremonies in Iraq. The statement was completely fabricated and entirely against the role of WHO in protecting public health. WHO...