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 platform to underscore the profound and enduring partnership between the global health agency and the Jordanian government. The visit places a powerful spotlight on critical areas of cooperation, including the advancement of universal health coverage (UHC), the expansion of mental health services, and the execution of vital humanitarian health actions across a region deeply affected by ongoing conflicts and displacement.
At the heart of the first day’s engagements was a pivotal meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. This high-level audience underscored the immense importance of the State visit and recognized Jordan’s steadfast leadership in elevating health as both a national and a global strategic priority. Discussions held during the royal meeting focused intensively on strengthening domestic health systems, expanding equitable access to quality care, and sustaining international support for emergency health responses across the Middle East. Particular emphasis was placed on the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, the specialized medical care required by patients evacuated directly from Gaza to Jordan, and the millions of refugees currently hosted within the Kingdom.
Expressing his profound gratitude following the audience, Dr Tedros praised the Jordanian monarch for his unwavering dedication to public health. "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 Director-General further commended the nation’s broader humanitarian footprint. "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 meeting with King Abdullah II, Dr Tedros undertook a poignant field visit to a WHO-supported hospital currently providing specialized, intensive care to children who have been medically evacuated from the Gaza Strip. During the visit, the Director-General spent time meeting young patients and their families, as well as interacting directly with the frontline health workers who are delivering life-saving treatments for severe injuries, pediatric cancer, and a range of other complex medical conditions. This visit served to vividly highlight the indispensable nature of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan, while reinforcing the urgent need for sustained, long-term international support to ensure that vulnerable children and other critical patients retain unimpeded access to essential healthcare services.
In addition to his royal audience and hospital rounds, Dr Tedros convened a high-level strategic meeting with a diverse group of health partners, donor nations, United Nations agencies, and philanthropic organizations. The gathering was designed to address critical financing priorities aimed at reinforcing Jordan’s national health infrastructure and sustaining ongoing humanitarian health operations. Key topics on the agenda included the scaling up of integrated mental health services and securing robust support for countries hosting exceptionally large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration and the continued financial and political commitments demonstrated by partners willing to invest heavily in the health and resilience of Jordan and the wider region.
The Director-General also held bilateral policy discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. These talks centered heavily on practical strategies for fortifying Jordan’s domestic health system and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has increasingly established itself as a global leader in embedding a robust primary healthcare approach within its national framework to achieve UHC. This includes the successful integration of mental health care into routine primary services, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support as an ordinary component of everyday medical treatment. The WHO continues to provide vital technical and strategic support for this work, leveraging the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health to drive meaningful systemic improvements.
Notably, Dr Tedros was accompanied during several of the day’s high-profile engagements by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, participating in their capacities as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-standing supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mission. Archewell has previously provided critical backing to a wide range of WHO initiatives, spanning from the promotion of equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to specialized medical evacuation operations and mental health advocacy programmes. During the visit, Prince Harry actively participated as a dedicated ally of the WHO’s mental health portfolio, emphasizing the vital necessity of investing in psychological wellbeing across communities and emergency settings, with a focused lens on the needs of men, young people, and children.
Acknowledging the contribution of the royal couple, 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."
Sharing his reflections on the ground in Jordan, Prince Harry stated, "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 state visit transitions into its second day, Dr Tedros’s itinerary includes a scheduled visit to Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an institution supported by the WHO that delivers comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services. He is also slated to meet with prominent community leaders and local women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, followed by a tour of the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to review advancements in oncology care and explore opportunities for expanded regional collaboration.
The multi-day state visit is scheduled to conclude with further discussions involving international partners who support vital humanitarian operations, cementing Jordan’s irreplaceable standing as a regional hub for medical evacuations, emergency response coordination, and healthcare system resilience.
