The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today 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 Jordan across critical sectors. The discussions centered primarily on universal health coverage, mental health integration, and vital humanitarian health action in a region profoundly shaped by ongoing conflict and displacement.
A central and defining moment of the visit was a high-level meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. The audience underscored the deep significance of the State visit and recognized Jordan’s steadfast national and global leadership in advancing health as both a domestic priority and an essential pillar of international stability. Their comprehensive discussions focused on strengthening resilient health systems, expanding equitable access to quality care, and sustaining international support for emergency responses across the Middle East. Particular attention was devoted to the plight of the Palestinian people, patients evacuated directly from Gaza to Jordan for specialized medical treatment, and the millions of refugees hosted generously by the Kingdom.
Expressing his profound gratitude for the nation’s humanitarian posture, Dr Tedros addressed the monarch directly. "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 elaborated on the Kingdom’s outsized contributions to regional welfare. "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."
In line with these humanitarian commitments, Dr Tedros spent a portion of the day visiting a specialized, WHO-supported hospital that currently provides advanced care to children evacuated from the conflict in Gaza. During the hospital tour, he met with young patients and their families, as well as the frontline health workers who are tirelessly delivering life-saving treatments for severe injuries, complex cancer cases, and other critical medical conditions. This poignant visit powerfully highlighted the indispensability of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan, while emphasizing the ongoing need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other individuals in urgent need can reliably access essential medical services.
Following the hospital visit, the Director-General convened a high-level strategic meeting with key health partners, donor countries, United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropies. The gathering served as a vital forum to discuss financing priorities aimed at reinforcing Jordan’s domestic health system. Participants also addressed ongoing humanitarian health actions, specifically focusing on scaling up comprehensive mental health services and providing robust support to nations that shoulder the immense task of hosting large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration and the continued, unwavering commitment of partners to invest strategically in health infrastructure within Jordan and across the wider region.
In addition to multilateral engagements, Dr Tedros held focused bilateral discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health. These talks honed in on structural strategies for reinforcing Jordan’s broader health system and steadily advancing universal health coverage. Jordan has increasingly demonstrated global leadership by championing a primary health care approach to achieve universal coverage. A notable component of this leadership is the successful integration of mental health into primary care settings, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access mental health services as a routine, seamless part of their overall healthcare experience. The World Health Organization continues to support this groundbreaking work through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health, fostering a model that other nations can study and adapt.
Significantly, the Director-General was accompanied during several key engagements of the day by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan. The royal couple participated in their official capacities as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mission. Over the years, Archewell has actively supported diverse WHO initiatives, ranging from global advocacy for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to vital medical evacuation operations and comprehensive mental health programs. Prince Harry participated actively as a vocal ally of WHO’s ongoing work on mental health, using the platform to highlight the critical importance of investing in mental health resources across communities and emergency settings, with a distinct emphasis on addressing the needs of men, young people, and children.
Reflecting on this collaboration, Dr Tedros expressed his appreciation for the royal couple’s involvement. "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."
Echoing these sentiments, Prince Harry shared his perspective on the visit and the broader partnership. "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-class 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 already underway for a dense second day of engagements. Dr Tedros is scheduled to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a facility supported by WHO that delivers integrated medical, psychological, and social support services to those in need. Additionally, he will meet with influential community leaders and prominent women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. The itinerary also features a visit to the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center, where discussions will center on recent advancements in specialized cancer care and the promotion of deeper regional collaboration in oncology.
The high-profile State visit will ultimately conclude with further discussions alongside international partners who underpin critical humanitarian operations in the region, thereby reinforcing Jordan’s indisputable role as a vital hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency responses, and enduring health system resilience across the Middle East.
