The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has concluded the first day of his high-level, two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a diplomatic and humanitarian mission that underscores the exceptionally strong partnership between the global health agency and the Jordanian government. Across various engagements, the visit has heavily spotlighted crucial pillars of public health, including universal health coverage, comprehensive mental health integration, and vital humanitarian health action in a region profoundly shaped by ongoing conflict and displacement.
A central and defining moment of the visit was a high-level meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. This royal audience reflected the immense strategic importance of the State visit and recognized Jordan’s enduring global and national leadership in advancing health as an absolute priority. Discussions during the royal meeting focused intensively on strengthening domestic health systems, expanding equitable access to quality care, and sustaining international support for emergency responses across the Middle East. Particular attention was devoted to the plight of the Palestinian people, specifically patients evacuated directly from Gaza into Jordan for specialized medical treatment, as well as the millions of refugees historically hosted by the Kingdom.
Expressing his profound gratitude, Dr Tedros praised the Jordanian monarch during their discussions. "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 further elaborated on the Kingdom’s broader geopolitical and humanitarian footprint, highlighting specific logistical and medical interventions. "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," he added.
Following the royal meeting, Dr Tedros dedicated a significant portion of his schedule to witnessing these humanitarian efforts firsthand. He visited a WHO-supported specialized hospital in Jordan that provides advanced, critical care to children evacuated directly from the conflict zones in Gaza. During this deeply moving visit, the WHO Director-General walked the hospital wards, meeting young patients and their families, as well as the frontline health workers who labor tirelessly to deliver life-saving treatments for complex injuries, cancer, and other severe medical conditions. This field visit starkly underscored the irreplaceable importance of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan, while simultaneously reinforcing the urgent call for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other critical patients retain unimpeded access to essential care.
Expanding the scope of the visit toward sustainable health financing and structural resilience, Dr Tedros convened a high-level strategic meeting with key health partners, donor countries, United Nations agencies, and leading philanthropies. The roundtable discussion centered on coordinating and prioritizing financing strategies aimed at reinforcing Jordan’s national health architecture. Additionally, participants evaluated ongoing humanitarian health actions, focusing closely on scaling up accessible mental health services and adequately supporting host countries that shoulder the immense socioeconomic and infrastructural responsibilities of managing large refugee populations. Dr Tedros warmly welcomed the robust collaboration and continued commitment demonstrated by international partners, emphasizing that investing in Jordan’s health sector yields benefits that reverberate far beyond its borders into the wider region.
In tandem with multilateral meetings, the WHO Director-General held crucial bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. These talks concentrated heavily on the mechanics of solidifying Jordan’s domestic health system and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has increasingly established itself as a global leader in fortifying a robust primary health care approach. This strategic model successfully integrates mental health care into routine medical services, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support seamlessly alongside traditional clinical care. The World Health Organization continues to provide technical and structural support to this pioneering work, channeling assistance through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Adding a notable collaborative dimension to the diplomatic mission, Dr Tedros was accompanied during several key engagements by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan. The royal couple participated in their official capacities as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mandate. Over the years, Archewell has backed a diverse array of WHO initiatives, ranging from advocacy for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation frameworks and mental health programs. Prince Harry participated actively as a vocal ally of WHO’s ongoing mental health initiatives, leveraging his platform to emphasize the critical necessity of investing in mental health across diverse communities and emergency settings. His advocacy placed special emphasis on the psychological needs of men, young people, and children navigating acute crises.
Reflecting on this high-profile partnership, 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."
Echoing these sentiments, Prince Harry shared his perspective on the mission and the broader imperatives of global health advocacy. "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," Prince Harry 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."
As the state visit transitions into its second and final day, Dr Tedros’s itinerary remains packed with critical field visits and stakeholder meetings. His schedule includes a visit to Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an institution supported by WHO that offers comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services. He is also slated to engage directly with community leaders and prominent women’s groups, including the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss grassroots health initiatives and community resilience. Furthermore, Dr Tedros will tour the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to evaluate recent technological and clinical advancements in oncology care, while exploring opportunities for enhanced regional collaboration in cancer treatment and research.
The high-level State visit is set to conclude with a final series of engagements involving international partners who underwrite humanitarian operations across the Middle East. These concluding meetings will serve to solidify Jordan’s indispensable status as a stable, reliable regional hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency responses, and long-term health system resilience.
[Paul Garwood, Communications Officer, WHO]
[WHO Media Team, World Health Organization]
