World Polio Day: statement by Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
On World Polio Day, our Region and the world is closer than ever to eradicating polio. 25 October 2015 – There has been real progress in eradicating polio from the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2015. The 2013–2014 polio outbreak in Somalia, which affected nearly 200 people, most of them children, has been officially declared over, 14 months...
World Polio Day: polio outbreak stopped in Middle East, experts remain cautious
25 October, 2015 | Beirut – Despite continuing conflict, declining immunization rates in conflict-affected areas and mass population displacement, no new polio cases have been reported in the Middle East for over 18 months, and experts believe the extensive multi-country outbreak response has been effective in stopping the outbreak. The outbreak, which...
WHO responds to deteriorating health situation in Taiz, Yemen
WHO urgently needs US$ 60 million to continue its life-saving response operations across the country until the end of 201520 October 2015, Sana’a, Yemen – Ongoing violence and insecurity continue to limit the delivery of aid in Taiz governorate in Yemen, where more than 3.3 million people, including 300 585 internally displaced persons, are in...
62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee concludes in Kuwait
Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, HE Dr Ali Al Obaidi, Minister of Health of Kuwait, Dr Jaouad Mahjour, WHO Director, Programme Management, at the closing session of WHO’s 62nd session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern MediterraneanKuwait, 8 October 2015 – The World Health Organization Regional Committee for...
Regional Committee continues discussions on strategic health priorities
7 October 2015 -- The 62nd session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean continued its discussions yesterday in Kuwait on regional and global strategic health priorities. The day's sessions focused on implementation of the United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable...
WHO Regional Committee opens in Kuwait; highlights WHO's role in emergency response
5 October 2015 – The opening ceremony of the 62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean took place in Kuwait today in the presence of more than 200 people, including the representatives of 22 ministries of health from the countries of the Region. His Excellency Mr Said El Aidi, Minister of Health of Tunisia,...
62nd Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, Kuwait, 5–8 October 2015
4 October 2015 -- The 62nd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean opened on Monday evening, 5 October 2015, in Kuwait City. Working sessions will start the following morning. As WHO’s governing body at the regional level, the Regional Committee consists of representatives of all 22...
Months of health preparations in place as hajj pilgrimage begins
21 September 2015 | Saudi Arabia – As an estimated 2 million Muslims from 184 countries gather in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca to take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage, months of preparations to care for health issues of pilgrims are also coming together. Over the last 6 months, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of...
WHO leads discussion on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children
Amman, Jordan, 13 September 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is holding in Jordan an open forum on unopposed marketing of unhealthy food and beverages targeting children on 13–14 September 2015. This event is part of WHO’s initiative to fight overweight and obesity, a condition that affects more...
Regional Director’s statement on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day 2015
Health workers in a damaged area of Deir-Ez-Zor, Syrian Arab Republic19 August, 2015, Cairo, Egypt -- Every year, World Humanitarian Day provides us with the opportunity to recognize and honour the people who help other people -- the humanitarian aid workers who dedicate their lives to serving those in need. This year’s theme focuses on health...
