The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today concluded the first day of his high-profile two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The diplomatic mission serves to underscore the exceptionally strong and enduring partnership between the global health agency and the Jordanian government, focusing heavily on advancing universal health coverage, transforming mental health care integration, and sustaining vital humanitarian health actions across a volatile and conflict-affected region.
A central moment of the visit was today’s official meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II. The high-level encounter reflected the immense political significance of the State visit and recognized Jordan’s steadfast leadership in championing health as both a national cornerstone and a critical global priority. During their substantive discussions, Dr Tedros and King Abdullah II examined key strategies for reinforcing national health systems, expanding equitable access to quality health care services, and sustaining long-term international support for emergency responses throughout the Middle East. Particular emphasis was placed on the pressing health needs of the Palestinian people, vulnerable patients evacuated from Gaza directly to Jordan for specialized medical treatment, and the millions of refugees generously hosted by the Jordanian kingdom over many years.
Expressing his profound gratitude during the proceedings, Dr Tedros commended the Jordanian monarch for his unwavering dedication to health equity. "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."
The WHO chief further acknowledged Jordan’s broader geopolitical and humanitarian footprint, noting the vital lifesaving impact of ongoing national initiatives. "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," Dr Tedros added.
Following the state-level meetings, Dr Tedros undertook a poignant field visit to a WHO-supported hospital actively providing specialized, high-level care to children who have been medically evacuated from the conflict zone in Gaza. Walking through the facility, the Director-General met directly with young patients and their families, as well as the frontline health workers, physicians, and nurses who are working tirelessly day and night to deliver life-saving treatments for severe trauma injuries, advanced cancer cases, and other complex, life-threatening medical conditions.
This on-the-ground engagement powerfully highlighted the absolute indispensability of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan. It simultaneously underscored the urgent, ongoing requirement for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other critically ill individuals can continue to access essential, unhindered health care away from active conflict zones.
In addition to his clinical visits, the Director-General convened a high-level strategic meeting bringing together key international health partners, donor countries, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropic organizations. The gathering was dedicated to addressing critical financing priorities aimed at bolstering health system strengthening within Jordan, while also securing resources for broader humanitarian health interventions. Discussions during the roundtable centered on scaling up comprehensive mental health services and ensuring robust, predictable backing for nations carrying the immense responsibility of hosting large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration, unity, and continued commitment of international partners to invest sustainably in health infrastructure and workforce capacity in Jordan and across the wider regional landscape.
Earlier in the day, Dr Tedros also held focused bilateral discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health. Their dialogue concentrated on practical measures to fortify Jordan’s domestic health system architecture and accelerate national progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has consistently demonstrated commendable global leadership by anchoring its health strategy in a robust primary health care approach. This includes the pioneering integration of mental health services directly into routine community care settings, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support seamlessly as an organic component of standard medical treatment. The World Health Organization continues to provide vital technical and strategic support to this transformative work through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Significantly, the Director-General was accompanied during several key engagements of the day by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan. The royal couple participated in their official capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global health missions. Archewell has previously provided critical support to a diverse array of WHO initiatives, ranging from advocating for and facilitating equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation frameworks and mental health programs in crisis zones. During the Jordan visit, Prince Harry actively participated as an influential ally and advocate for the WHO’s ongoing global work on mental health. He repeatedly emphasized the critical necessity of investing heavily in mental health support networks across local communities and emergency settings, drawing particular attention to the unique psychological needs of men, young people, and children navigating trauma.
Expressing his appreciation for their continued advocacy, Dr Tedros noted, "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."
Reflecting on the significance of the joint mission, Prince Harry shared his perspective on the ground in Amman: "It is an honour 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 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."
The comprehensive state visit is scheduled to continue into its second day, during which Dr Tedros will maintain a rigorous schedule of institutional visits and community engagements. His itinerary includes a planned tour of Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts. The center receives vital technical and programmatic support from the WHO and delivers integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services to individuals in need.
Furthermore, the Director-General is slated to meet with prominent community leaders and local women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss grassroots resilience and community-led health promotion. He will also visit the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to engage with medical professionals and administrators regarding recent advances in specialized cancer care, research, and regional medical collaboration.
The high-level State visit will formally conclude following a series of final consultations and engagements with international partners and stakeholders who support ongoing humanitarian and medical operations across the country. These concluding discussions will further reinforce Jordan’s indispensable, recognized role as a central regional hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency response coordination, and long-term health system resilience in the Middle East.
Reporting by Paul Garwood, Communications Officer, and the WHO Media Team, World Health Organization.
