The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has concluded the first day of his high-profile, two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The visit has powerfully underscored the robust, longstanding partnership between the global health body and Jordan, focusing heavily on critical areas such as universal health coverage (UHC), mental health integration, and urgent humanitarian health action across a volatile region.
The centerpiece of the opening day was a pivotal meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. This high-level dialogue reflected not only the immense importance of the State visit itself but also recognized Jordan’s steadfast leadership in advancing health as both a paramount national priority and an indispensable global public good. Discussions during the royal audience centered on comprehensive strategies for strengthening national health systems, expanding equitable access to essential care, and sustaining vital support for emergency responses throughout the region. Particular emphasis was placed on the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, patients who have been medically evacuated from Gaza into Jordan for specialized treatment, and the millions of refugees currently hosted within the Kingdom’s borders.
Following the meeting, Dr Tedros expressed deep gratitude for the Hashemite monarch’s vision and dedication. "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 commended Jordan’s wider humanitarian footprint, drawing specific attention to the monarch’s visionary 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," he added.
As part of his intensive schedule, Dr Tedros traveled to a WHO-supported hospital dedicated to delivering specialized medical care to young patients who have been evacuated directly from Gaza. During the hospital tour, the WHO chief walked the wards to meet young patients and their families, offering words of comfort, while also speaking directly with frontline health workers. These dedicated medical professionals are working tirelessly under immense pressure to deliver life-saving treatments for severe trauma injuries, cancer, and a wide array of other complex medical conditions. The poignant visit served to underscore the indispensable nature of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan, while highlighting the urgent, ongoing need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other displaced individuals can continue accessing essential, life-saving care.
Demonstrating the collaborative multilateral approach required to tackle modern health crises, the Director-General also convened a high-level strategic meeting with key health partners, donor countries, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropic organizations. The gathering served as a vital forum to deliberate on financing priorities aimed at bolstering Jordan’s health system resilience and sustaining ongoing humanitarian health actions. Key themes on the agenda included the scaling up of mental health services and addressing the complex needs of countries hosting large, protracted refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration and unwavering commitment demonstrated by these diverse partners, emphasizing the importance of continued investment in health infrastructure both within Jordan and across the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
In addition to the multilateral engagements, Dr Tedros held focused bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. Their talks homed in on structural reforms designed to reinforce Jordan’s national health system and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has increasingly earned global recognition and leadership for championing a primary health care approach to achieve UHC. Notably, this includes the seamless integration of mental health services into routine primary care, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support as an ordinary and destigmatized part of their everyday health care journey. The WHO continues to provide crucial technical and strategic support for this work, leveraging the framework of the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Adding significant international visibility and diplomatic momentum to the visit, Dr Tedros was accompanied during several key engagements by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Participating in their capacities as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-standing, dedicated supporters of the WHO’s global mandate, the couple brought renewed attention to pressing humanitarian concerns. Archewell has previously provided vital support to a wide range of WHO initiatives, spanning from ensuring equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to facilitating complex medical evacuations and funding critical mental health programs. Prince Harry, actively participating as a prominent global ally of the WHO’s mental health initiatives, used the platform to emphasize the absolute necessity of investing in mental health across diverse communities and emergency settings, drawing particular attention to the needs of men, young people, and children who bear the psychological scars of conflict.
Reflecting on their presence and ongoing 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 shared his reflections on the ground in Jordan, noting the profound impact of the nation’s ethos. "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 institutional engagements. The Director-General is scheduled to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a facility supported extensively by the WHO that offers comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social services to those in need. Furthermore, he will meet with influential community leaders and grassroots women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss community-level resilience and health promotion. His schedule also features a visit to the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center, where he will engage with medical experts on recent advancements in specialized cancer care and explore avenues for enhanced regional collaboration in oncology.
The high-level State visit is set to conclude with a series of final engagements with international partners and stakeholders who underpin humanitarian operations in the Kingdom. These closing meetings will serve to further reinforce Jordan’s indispensable, strategic position as a central regional hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency health responses, and long-term health system resilience in an increasingly challenging geopolitical landscape.
