The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, concluded the first day of a pivotal two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan today. The visit serves as a significant diplomatic and operational milestone, designed to reinforce the robust partnership between the global health agency and the Jordanian government across critical sectors, including universal health coverage (UHC), mental health services, and humanitarian health action in an increasingly volatile region.
A central moment of the visit occurred during a high-level meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II. This engagement underscored the strategic importance of the visit and acknowledged Jordan’s regional leadership in positioning health as both a national priority and a global imperative. The dialogue between Dr. Tedros and the King focused on the pressing need to strengthen health systems, expand equitable access to essential care, and sustain the logistical and political support required for emergency responses. Central to these discussions was the ongoing crisis in the region, specifically regarding the welfare of the Palestinian people, the status of patients evacuated from Gaza for urgent medical treatment, and the extensive population of refugees currently hosted within Jordan’s borders.
Following the meeting, Dr. Tedros expressed his profound appreciation for the Kingdom’s humanitarian stance. “I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his commitment to advancing universal health coverage,” Dr. Tedros stated. He further extended his gratitude to both the monarch and the Jordanian people, citing their enduring solidarity and remarkable generosity. Jordan currently provides vital health services to more than three million refugees, a population primarily composed of individuals displaced from Gaza and Syria.
Dr. Tedros specifically lauded Jordan’s broader humanitarian initiatives, most notably the "Medical Corridor" established by His Majesty. This initiative has become a lifeline, facilitating the delivery of critical care to ill and injured children evacuated from the conflict zones of Gaza. By providing a secure path for medical transit and specialized treatment, Jordan has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to putting health and humanity at the forefront of its policy, setting an example for the international community.
As part of the day’s operational agenda, Dr. Tedros conducted a visit to a WHO-supported hospital currently providing specialized medical care to children evacuated from Gaza. During this visit, he met with young patients, their families, and the frontline health workers who are laboring under immense pressure to deliver life-saving treatments for complex injuries, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions. The visit served as a poignant reminder of the indispensability of the medical evacuation corridor. Dr. Tedros emphasized that the success of this corridor relies heavily on sustained international support and funding, which are essential to ensure that children and other vulnerable individuals have uninterrupted access to the care they require to survive.
Building on these field observations, the Director-General convened a high-level meeting with key health partners, including representatives from donor nations, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropic organizations. The summit was dedicated to mapping out financing priorities for the strengthening of Jordan’s health infrastructure and coordinating ongoing humanitarian health operations. Discussions also touched upon the necessity of scaling up mental health services, which have been strained by the influx of refugees, and securing support for nations that bear the heavy responsibility of hosting large displaced populations. Dr. Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration exhibited by these partners, noting that their commitment is vital to investing in the resilience of health systems across the entire region.
In addition to his humanitarian engagements, Dr. Tedros held bilateral discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health. These talks centered on the technical aspects of bolstering Jordan’s national health system and the strategic advancement of universal health coverage. Jordan has emerged as a global leader in adopting a primary health care approach to achieve UHC, specifically through the integration of mental health services into routine care. This approach ensures that mental health support is not treated as a luxury or a secondary service, but as an essential component of primary medical care. The WHO continues to provide technical and operational support for this integration through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
The Director-General was accompanied throughout several of these engagements by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan. The couple participated in their capacities as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing advocates for the work of the World Health Organization. Their involvement highlights a long-term partnership with the WHO, which has included support for initiatives ranging from ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to the expansion of medical evacuation corridors and the development of comprehensive mental health programs. Prince Harry, in particular, has been an active ally in the WHO’s mental health agenda, consistently advocating for increased investment in community-based mental health care, with a specific focus on the needs of men, youth, and children living in emergency or conflict-affected settings.
Reflecting on this collaboration, Dr. Tedros remarked, “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 echoed these sentiments during the visit, emphasizing the importance of the work being done on the ground. “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,” the Duke said. “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 second day of the State visit is expected to be equally rigorous. Dr. Tedros is scheduled to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a facility supported by the WHO that provides integrated medical, psychological, and social services to those struggling with addiction. Furthermore, the Director-General will meet with various community leaders and prominent women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss the intersection of social development and public health. A visit to the King Hussein Cancer Center is also on the itinerary, where discussions will focus on the latest advances in cancer treatment and the potential for increased regional collaboration in oncology care.
The visit is slated to conclude with additional meetings with stakeholders involved in humanitarian operations. These final engagements are intended to reinforce Jordan’s status as a critical regional hub for medical evacuation, emergency response, and the long-term resilience of health systems. By synthesizing the outcomes of these meetings, the WHO and the Jordanian government aim to create a sustainable roadmap that addresses both the immediate health crises facing the region and the structural requirements for a healthier, more stable future. As the global health landscape continues to face unprecedented challenges, the partnership between Jordan and the WHO remains a cornerstone of international efforts to provide aid, advocate for vulnerable populations, and ensure that health remains a fundamental human right, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
