WHO Director-General praises Jordan for health system efforts

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. He emphasized the strong partnership between WHO and Jordan in the areas of universal health coverage (UHC), mental health, and humanitarian health action.

A central moment of the visit was today’s meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II, highlighting the significance of this state visit and Jordan’s leadership in promoting health as a national and global priority. The discussions centered around enhancing health systems, increasing access to care, and maintaining support for emergency responses in the region, especially concerning the Palestinian people, patients evacuated from Gaza to Jordan for treatment, and the refugees accommodated in Jordan.

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

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

During the day, Dr. Tedros visited a WHO-supported hospital that provides specialized care to children evacuated from Gaza. He met with young patients and their families, as well as frontline health workers who are delivering life-saving treatments for injuries, cancer, and other serious conditions. The visit underscored the importance of the medical evacuation corridor through Jordan and the necessity for sustained international support to ensure that children and others in need can access essential care.

The Director-General also convened a high-level meeting with health partners, donor countries, United Nations agencies, and philanthropies to discuss financing priorities for strengthening health systems in Jordan and ongoing humanitarian health efforts, including the expansion of mental health services and support for countries hosting large refugee populations. He expressed appreciation for the strong collaboration and continued commitment of partners to invest in health in Jordan and throughout the region.

He further held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Health, focusing on strengthening Jordan’s health system and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Jordan has demonstrated global leadership in enhancing a primary health care approach to achieve UHC, including the integration of mental health, ensuring that people can access mental health services as part of routine care. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support this effort through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.

The Director-General was accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, during several engagements in their roles as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-time supporters of the World Health Organization's (WHO) efforts. Archewell has backed various WHO initiatives, including equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, medical evacuations, and mental health programs. Prince Harry also engaged as an ally for WHO’s mental health initiatives, emphasizing the need to invest in mental health within communities and emergency situations, particularly focusing 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 is helping to 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 firsthand the impact of WHO’s efforts to support mental health and deliver life-saving care in emergencies. We remain deeply committed to advancing awareness, reducing stigma, and expanding access to mental health support for all those affected by conflict and crisis. 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 tour Jordan's National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, which is supported by the WHO and offers integrated medical, psychological, and social services. He will also meet with community leaders and women's organizations, including the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, and visit the King Hussein Cancer Center to discuss advancements in cancer care and regional collaboration.

The State visit will conclude with further meetings with partners who support humanitarian operations, reinforcing Jordan's vital role as a center for medical evacuations, emergency responses, and health system resilience in the region.