World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has concluded the first day of his two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, using the high-profile diplomatic mission to underscore the robust and enduring partnership between the global health body and the Jordanian government. The visit places a distinct focus on universal health coverage (UHC), comprehensive mental health frameworks, and vital humanitarian health actions operating within a region profoundly affected by ongoing conflicts and protracted displacement crises.
A central cornerstone of Dr Tedros’s itinerary on the opening day was a high-level official meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II. This significant encounter highlighted Jordan’s prominent leadership in championing health as both a domestic national priority and an essential pillar of global stability. Discussions during the royal audience centered heavily on reinforcing national health systems, expanding equitable access to essential medical care, and sustaining international and regional support for emergency response operations. Particular attention was devoted to the needs of the Palestinian people, specifically patients medically evacuated from Gaza into Jordan for specialized treatment, alongside the millions of refugees historically and currently hosted within Jordanian borders.
Expressing his deep gratitude during the engagements, Dr Tedros praised the Jordanian monarch. “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 emphasized the broader geopolitical and humanitarian significance of the nation’s actions, noting Jordan’s unparalleled leadership in crisis management. “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 his discussions with King Abdullah II, Dr Tedros traveled to a specialized, WHO-supported hospital facility that provides advanced medical care to children evacuated directly from the conflict in Gaza. During the hospital tour, the WHO Director-General met personally with young patients and their families, as well as the frontline health workers, nurses, and physicians who are working tirelessly to deliver life-saving treatments for severe traumatic injuries, pediatric cancers, and a wide array of other complex medical conditions.
This poignant visit served to underscore the indispensable nature of the medical evacuation corridor established through Jordan. It simultaneously reinforced the urgent international call for sustained, long-term global support to ensure that vulnerable children and other critically ill individuals can reliably access essential medical interventions that are otherwise unavailable to them.
Continuing his busy diplomatic and operational schedule, Dr Tedros convened a strategic, high-level meeting with key health partners, international donor countries, United Nations specialized agencies, and major philanthropic organizations. The primary objective of this roundtable discussion was to evaluate and align financing priorities designed to reinforce Jordan’s health infrastructure while simultaneously bolstering ongoing humanitarian health operations. Key discussion points included the necessary scaling up of mental health services and securing dependable support mechanisms for nations that carry the heavy socio-economic responsibility of hosting large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the robust collaboration and the steadfast commitment demonstrated by international partners who continue to invest heavily in the health sector of Jordan and the wider Middle East region.
In addition to multilateral meetings, the WHO Director-General held focused bilateral talks with the Jordanian Minister of Health. These discussions drilled down into the technical aspects of fortifying Jordan’s domestic health system and advancing the overarching goals of universal health coverage. Jordan has consistently demonstrated commendable global leadership by embedding a strong primary health care approach into its national framework 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, destigmatized component of daily health services. The WHO actively supports these pioneering reforms through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Significantly enhancing the visibility of the visit, Dr Tedros was accompanied throughout several key engagements by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Participating in their official capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mission, the royal couple brought substantial international attention to the humanitarian situation on the ground. Archewell Philanthropies has a demonstrated history of supporting various vital WHO initiatives, ranging from advocating for equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting critical medical evacuation and mental health programs in crisis-affected zones. Prince Harry actively participated in the day’s events in his ongoing capacity as a prominent global ally of WHO’s mental health advocacy, emphasizing the absolute necessity of investing in psychological well-being across diverse communities and emergency settings, with targeted attention directed toward men, adolescents, and children.
Acknowledging this high-profile partnership, 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.”
Adding his perspective on the ground, Prince Harry shared his reflections on the joint mission to the Hashemite Kingdom. “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,” said Prince Harry. “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 first day of the high-level mission drew to a close, preparations were finalized for the second and final day of the State visit. Dr Tedros’s itinerary includes a scheduled visit to Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an institution supported directly by the WHO that delivers integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services. The Director-General is also scheduled to meet with influential community leaders and prominent women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. Furthermore, he will tour the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to engage in discussions regarding recent advancements in comprehensive cancer care and explore opportunities for expanded regional medical collaboration.
The official State visit is set to conclude with a final series of engagements involving international partners who provide vital backing to humanitarian operations across the region. These concluding meetings will further reinforce Jordan’s indispensable role as a central logistical hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency health responses, and the long-term resilience of health systems throughout the Middle East.
(Reporting by Paul Garwood, Communications Officer, WHO, and the WHO Media Team, World Health Organization)
