World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has concluded the first day of his high-profile, two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, using the diplomatic mission to underscore the robust and enduring partnership between the global health agency and the Jordanian government. The discussions throughout the opening day centered heavily on advancing universal health coverage, transforming mental health services, and bolstering humanitarian health action across a region profoundly impacted by protracted conflict and displacement.
A central milestone of the visit was Dr Tedros’s official meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II. The high-level encounter served to highlight the profound importance of the State visit and recognized Jordan’s steadfast leadership in championing health as both a paramount national objective and an indispensable global priority. Extensive discussions between the WHO Director-General and the Jordanian monarch focused on structural strategies for strengthening resilient health systems, expanding equitable access to essential medical care, and sustaining vital support for emergency medical responses throughout the Middle East. Particular emphasis was placed on the ongoing humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, specialized medical patients evacuated from Gaza directly to Jordan for urgent intervention, and the millions of refugees generously hosted within Jordan’s borders.
Expressing his deep gratitude, Dr Tedros lauded the Jordanian leadership during the meetings. "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 emphasized the nation’s wider regional impact, adding, "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."
Following the royal audience, Dr Tedros participated in vital field engagements, visiting a specialized hospital supported by the WHO that delivers dedicated, advanced care to children evacuated from the ongoing crisis in Gaza. During the hospital tour, he interacted directly with young patients and their families, as well as the frontline health workers who labor tirelessly to deliver life-saving treatments for severe injuries, pediatric cancer, and various other critical medical conditions. This poignant visit powerfully highlighted the indispensability of the medical evacuation corridor established through Jordan, while simultaneously underscoring the pressing necessity for sustained, predictable international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other populations in urgent need can reliably access life-saving care.
In addition to field visits, the Director-General convened a critical, high-level roundtable meeting alongside key health partners, donor nations, various United Nations agencies, and leading philanthropies. The gathering was designed to deliberate on strategic financing priorities aimed at reinforcing Jordan’s domestic health infrastructure and maintaining ongoing humanitarian health actions. Key agenda items included scaling up comprehensive mental health services and reinforcing financial support for nations carrying the heavy responsibility of hosting large refugee populations. Dr Tedros warmly welcomed the strong collaboration and unwavering commitment demonstrated by these international partners to invest deeply in the health and well-being of Jordan and the wider region.
Earlier in the itinerary, Dr Tedros held bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. Those strategic talks honed in on pragmatic measures to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has consistently demonstrated commendable global leadership by anchoring its healthcare framework in a robust primary health care approach. This includes the successful integration of mental health provisions directly into routine healthcare delivery, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support services seamlessly as an ordinary component of primary medical care. The WHO continues to provide vital technical and strategic support to this ongoing work through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Significantly, Dr Tedros was accompanied during several key engagements of the day by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, participating in their official capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the WHO’s global mission. Archewell has previously provided critical backing to a wide array of WHO initiatives, spanning from advocating for equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation and comprehensive mental health programs. Prince Harry actively participated as an influential ally of the WHO’s ongoing work in the mental health sector, using the platform to articulate the absolute necessity of investing in psychological wellbeing across communities and emergency settings alike, with specialized attention directed toward men, young people, and children.
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."
Adding his perspective on the collaborative mission, Prince Harry shared, "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 high-level visit transitions into its second day, Dr Tedros’s itinerary includes a scheduled visit to Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts. The facility, which receives vital support from the WHO, provides comprehensive, 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. He will also tour the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to engage in discussions regarding remarkable advances in modern cancer care and explore avenues for enhanced regional collaboration in oncology.
The comprehensive State visit is ultimately set to conclude with a final series of strategic engagements alongside international partners who consistently support humanitarian operations across the Middle East. These concluding meetings will further solidify and reinforce Jordan’s irreplaceable role as a primary logistical and humanitarian hub for medical evacuations, emergency health responses, and overall health system resilience throughout the region.
The updates regarding the visit are being coordinated through Paul Garwood, Communications Officer for the WHO, alongside the broader WHO Media Team at the World Health Organization headquarters.
