The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today 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, enduring partnership between the global health agency and the Jordanian government. The visit places a distinct focus on advancing universal health coverage, strengthening domestic and regional mental health systems, and spearheading vital humanitarian health action across a region deeply affected by ongoing conflict and displacement.
A central moment of the visit was today’s high-level meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II, a diplomatic engagement that powerfully reflected the vital importance of the State visit and highlighted Jordan’s prominent leadership in advancing public health as both a national and a global strategic priority. The high-level discussions between Dr Tedros and the Jordanian monarch focused intensively on reinforcing national health systems, expanding equitable access to essential care for all populations, and sustaining robust support for emergency responses throughout the Middle East. Particular emphasis was placed on the ongoing humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, patients evacuated directly from Gaza to Jordanian medical facilities for specialized treatment, and the millions of refugees generously hosted by the kingdom.
"I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his unwavering commitment to advancing universal health coverage," said Dr Tedros during the discussions. "I also extend my thanks to His Majesty and the people of Jordan for their solidarity and extraordinary generosity in providing comprehensive health services to more than three million refugees, primarily from Gaza and Syria, who are living peacefully within the country."
Dr Tedros added a broader acknowledgment of the kingdom’s humanitarian footprint, noting that the international community remains deeply indebted to the nation’s leadership. "We are grateful for Jordan’s broader humanitarian leadership, including His Majesty’s pioneering Medical Corridor initiative, which delivers critical, life-saving care to ill and injured children from Gaza. Jordan continues to show the world what it truly means to put health and humanity first, even in times of severe regional adversity."
Earlier in the day, as part of his rigorous field itinerary, Dr Tedros visited a specialized, WHO-supported hospital actively providing advanced, compassionate care to children who have been medically evacuated from Gaza. During the hospital tour, the WHO chief met personally with young patients and their families, as well as the dedicated frontline health workers who are working tirelessly around the clock to deliver life-saving treatments for severe traumatic injuries, advanced cancer cases, and a wide array of other serious, life-threatening medical conditions.
This poignant hospital visit powerfully highlighted the irreplaceable operational importance of the medical evacuation corridor operating smoothly through Jordan. It simultaneously reinforced the urgent, ongoing need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other critically ill individuals can continue to access the essential, specialized care they desperately require.
In addition to his royal audience and hospital inspections, the Director-General also convened a high-level strategic meeting with key health partners, international donor countries, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropic foundations. The purpose of this gathering was to deliberate on crucial financing priorities aimed at reinforcing Jordan’s resilient health system and sustaining ongoing humanitarian health actions. Key topics on the agenda included scaling up comprehensive mental health services and securing reliable, long-term support for developing countries and host nations that are carrying the immense socio-economic and infrastructural weight of accommodating large refugee populations. Dr Tedros warmly welcomed the strong collaboration and continued steadfast commitment demonstrated by international partners to invest deeply in the health infrastructure of Jordan and the wider region.
Demonstrating the WHO’s collaborative approach to national governance and capacity building, Dr Tedros further held extensive bilateral discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health. These talks honed in on practical strategies for further strengthening Jordan’s comprehensive health system and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Notably, Jordan has consistently demonstrated global leadership by championing a robust primary health care approach to achieve universal coverage, a strategy that includes the pioneering integration of mental health into mainstream medical frameworks. This integration ensures that citizens and residents alike can access vital mental health services seamlessly as a standard, routine part of their everyday medical care. The World Health Organization continues to provide vital technical and operational support to this critical endeavor through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Significantly, the Director-General was accompanied during several key engagements of the day by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, participating in their professional capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mission. Archewell has previously provided meaningful support to a diverse array of WHO initiatives, ranging from advocating for equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation programs and vital mental health initiatives worldwide. Prince Harry actively participated throughout the day as a committed global ally of the WHO’s mental health portfolio, utilizing the platform to articulate the absolute necessity of investing heavily in community-level and emergency mental health structures, with a particular, empathetic focus on men, young people, and children navigating acute crises.
Reflecting on 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 personal and organizational commitment to mental health and humanitarian action has helped bring unprecedented visibility, critical resources, and renewed hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable and forgotten communities. Their invaluable collaboration is helping to propel WHO’s core mission forward to ensure health for all human beings."
Adding his perspective on the ground in Jordan, Prince Harry shared his thoughts on the collaborative mission, stating, "It is an absolute honor to join the Director-General of the World Health Organization here in Jordan, a country that continues to lead by inspiring example in matters of profound compassion, national resilience, and innovative public health administration. Through our collaborative work with Archewell Philanthropies, my wife and I have witnessed firsthand the profound, life-altering impact of WHO’s tireless efforts to support mental health frameworks and deliver emergency life-saving care in conflict zones."
Prince Harry further emphasized the long-term societal value of these interventions, adding, "We remain deeply and steadfastly committed to advancing public awareness, reducing the heavy societal stigma surrounding psychological struggles, and expanding equitable access to mental health support for all individuals who have been torn apart by conflict and crisis. Mental health is fundamentally the bedrock of human recovery, individual dignity, and long-term regional peace. We are profoundly proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the World Health Organization and our global partners to make psychological well-being a true global priority."
Looking ahead to the continuation of the high-level diplomatic mission, the second day of Dr Tedros’s State visit will feature targeted visits to several premier Jordanian institutions. He is scheduled to tour Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an advanced facility supported extensively by the WHO that delivers comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services. In addition, the Director-General will meet with influential community leaders and dedicated women’s groups, including representatives from the renowned Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. He will also tour the internationally respected King Hussein Cancer Center to discuss remarkable regional advances in modern cancer care and explore expanded opportunities for cross-border medical collaboration.
The official State visit will conclude with a series of final, targeted engagements with international partners who actively finance and sustain regional humanitarian operations. These concluding meetings will serve to further reinforce Jordan’s indispensable, strategic role as an essential operational hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency health responses, and overall health system resilience throughout the Middle East.
Media Contacts:
Paul Garwood
Communications Officer
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Media Team
World Health Organization (WHO)
