WHO Director-General visits Jordan to recognize strong collaboration in health system delivery, emergency care and mental health promotion

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today concluded the first day of his two-day state visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, highlighting the strong partnership between WHO and Jordan in the areas of universal health care (UHC), mental health and humanitarian health action.

The centerpiece of the visit was today’s meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II, which reflects the importance of this state visit and Jordan’s leading role in advancing health as a national and global priority. Discussions focused on strengthening health systems, expanding access to care, and maintaining support for emergency responses in the region, particularly for the Palestinian people, patients evacuated from Gaza to Jordan for treatment, and refugees housed in Jordan.

“I want to express my gratitude to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his commitment to advancing universal health coverage,” said Dr. Tedros. “I also thank His Majesty and the people of Jordan for their solidarity and generosity in providing health services to the more than three million refugees, primarily from Gaza and Syria, living in the country.

dr. Tedros added: “We are grateful for Jordan’s broader humanitarian leadership, including His Majesty’s Medical Corridor initiative, which provides critical care to sick and injured children in Gaza. Jordan continues to show the world what it really means to put health and humanity first.”

During the day, Dr. Tedros visited a WHO-supported hospital providing specialized care to children evacuated from Gaza. He met with young patients and their families, as well as front-line healthcare workers providing life-saving treatment for injuries, cancer and other serious conditions. The visit highlighted the importance of a medical evacuation corridor through Jordan and the need for continued international support to ensure children and others in need have access to basic care.

The Director-General also convened a high-level meeting with health partners, donor countries, United Nations agencies and philanthropists to discuss funding priorities for strengthening the health system in Jordan and ongoing humanitarian health action, including expanding mental health services and supporting countries hosting large refugee populations. He welcomed the strong cooperation and continued commitment of the partners to invest in health in Jordan and the entire region.

He further held bilateral talks with the Minister of Health, focusing on strengthening the Jordanian health system and advancing UHC. Jordan has shown global leadership in strengthening access to primary health care to achieve UHC including the integration of mental health, ensuring that people can access mental health services as part of routine care. WHO continues to support this work through the Director-General’s Special Initiative on Mental Health.

The CEO was accompanied during several engagements by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, in their capacity as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-term supporters of WHO’s work. Archewell has supported WHO initiatives ranging from equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to medical evacuation and mental health programs. Prince Harry has also been involved as an ally in the WHO’s work on mental health, highlighting the importance of investing in mental health in communities and emergencies, with a particular focus on men, young people and children.

dr. Tedros said: “I want to thank our partners, including Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, whose commitment to mental health and humanitarian action has helped bring visibility, resources and hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Their collaboration helps advance WHO’s mission to ensure health for all.”

Prince Harry said: “It is an honor to join the Director-General of the World Health Organization in Jordan, a country that is leading by example in compassion, resilience and innovation. Through our work with Archewell Philanthropies, my wife and I have seen first-hand the impact of WHO’s efforts to support mental health and provide life-saving care in emergencies. We remain deeply committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma and expanding access to mental health support for all those affected by conflict and crises Mental health is fundamental to recovery, dignity and long-term peace, and we are proud to stand with WHO and partners around the world to make it a global priority.

During the second day of the visit, Dr. Tedros will visit Jordan’s National Center for Addiction Rehabilitation, which is supported by WHO and provides integrated medical, psychological and social services. He will also meet with community leaders and women’s groups, including the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, and visit the King Hussein Cancer Center to discuss advances in cancer treatment and regional cooperation.

The state visit will conclude with additional engagements with partners supporting humanitarian operations, strengthening Jordan’s critical role as a hub for medical evacuation, emergency response and health system resilience in the region.