The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has concluded the first day of a significant two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The visit serves as a powerful testament to the enduring and strategic partnership between the WHO and Jordan, focusing on critical pillars of public health, including the pursuit of universal health coverage (UHC), the advancement of mental health services, and the coordination of humanitarian health action in a volatile region.
A centerpiece of the visit was a high-level meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II. This engagement underscored Jordan’s prominent role as a regional leader in positioning health as both a national necessity and a global priority. During their discussions, Dr. Tedros and King Abdullah II explored strategies for reinforcing national health systems, expanding the reach of primary care, and ensuring the sustainability of emergency response mechanisms. A significant portion of the dialogue was dedicated to the plight of the Palestinian people, with specific focus on patients evacuated from Gaza to Jordan for life-saving treatment, as well as the long-term support systems required for the millions of refugees currently hosted within the Kingdom.
"I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his commitment to advancing universal health coverage," Dr. Tedros stated following the meeting. "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 further emphasized the importance of Jordan’s unique humanitarian infrastructure, specifically highlighting the "Medical Corridor" initiative championed by the King. This initiative has become a lifeline for ill and injured children from Gaza, providing them with access to complex care that is otherwise unavailable in their home territory. "Jordan continues to show the world what it truly means to put health and humanity first," the Director-General remarked.
As part of his itinerary, Dr. Tedros visited a WHO-supported hospital that provides specialized treatment to children evacuated from the Gaza Strip. The visit provided an intimate look at the human cost of the ongoing conflict. Dr. Tedros met with the young patients and their families, as well as the dedicated frontline health workers who labor under difficult conditions to provide treatment for injuries, cancer, and other severe medical complications. This visit served to highlight the vital importance of maintaining the medical evacuation corridor through Jordan, as well as the urgent need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that the most vulnerable patients can continue to access the essential care they require.
The Director-General also convened a high-level roundtable meeting with key health partners, donor nations, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropies. The agenda focused on financing priorities aimed at bolstering Jordan’s health infrastructure and ensuring that humanitarian health interventions remain robust. Key topics included the necessity of scaling up mental health services—an area where Jordan has demonstrated consistent commitment—and the logistical challenges of supporting countries that host large refugee populations. Dr. Tedros welcomed the strong collaborative spirit among these partners, urging them to maintain their commitment to investing in the resilience of health systems across the region.
In a separate bilateral meeting, Dr. Tedros held discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health to delve deeper into the technical aspects of strengthening the national health system. Jordan has earned international recognition for its leadership in adopting a primary health care approach to achieve universal health coverage. A key component of this strategy has been the integration of mental health services into routine care, a move that significantly reduces the barrier to entry for patients. The WHO has been a consistent partner in this endeavor, primarily through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health, which provides technical support and policy guidance to the Jordanian Ministry of Health.
The visit was marked by the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, who joined several of the Director-General’s engagements. In their capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-standing supporters of the WHO’s global health agenda, the couple participated in discussions regarding the intersection of philanthropy and public health. Archewell has previously collaborated with the WHO on initiatives ranging from the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to medical evacuation efforts and mental health programs.
Prince Harry, who has long been an advocate for mental health awareness, utilized the visit to emphasize the importance of investing in psychological support systems within communities affected by conflict and crisis. He highlighted the need for targeted support for men, young people, and children who face unique stressors in emergency settings.
"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," Dr. Tedros noted. "Their collaboration is helping to advance WHO’s mission to ensure health for all."
Prince Harry reflected on the experience, stating, "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."
As the visit progresses into its second day, the schedule remains demanding. Dr. Tedros is slated to visit the National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an institution supported by the WHO that provides a comprehensive model of care, integrating medical, psychological, and social services. He is also scheduled to hold meetings with various community leaders and women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss the grassroots impact of health policies.
The trip will also feature a visit to the King Hussein Cancer Center, where discussions will center on the latest advancements in cancer care and the potential for increased regional collaboration in oncology. The State visit will ultimately conclude with further engagements with stakeholders involved in humanitarian operations, reinforcing the critical role that Jordan plays as a regional hub for medical evacuation, rapid emergency response, and the long-term cultivation of health system resilience in an often unstable geopolitical environment. Through these interactions, the WHO and its partners aim to ensure that the momentum generated by this visit translates into tangible, long-term health improvements for both the Jordanian population and the refugees they host.
