The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today concluded the first day of his high-stakes, 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 powerful spotlight on critical areas of mutual collaboration, including the ongoing pursuit of universal health coverage (UHC), the expansion of comprehensive mental health services, and urgent humanitarian health action in a region profoundly impacted by protracted conflict and displacement.
A central cornerstone of the visit was a high-level official meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II, an interaction that powerfully reflects the overarching significance of the State visit and Jordan’s recognized global leadership in championing health as both an essential national priority and an indispensable pillar of international stability. Detailed discussions between the WHO chief and the monarch centered heavily on systemic strategies for fortifying national health systems, expanding equitable access to high-quality medical care, and sustaining international support for critical emergency response operations across the Middle East. Particular emphasis was placed on the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, critically ill and injured patients successfully evacuated from Gaza into Jordan for specialized medical treatment, and the immense populations of refugees generously hosted by the Kingdom over successive decades.
Expressing profound gratitude during the engagements, Dr Tedros articulated his deep appreciation for the Jordanian leadership. "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."
Expanding on these sentiments, Dr Tedros highlighted the Kingdom’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."
In alignment with the diplomatic and humanitarian focus of the day, Dr Tedros undertook a poignant field visit to a specialized, WHO-supported hospital actively providing advanced medical care to vulnerable children evacuated directly from the conflict zones of Gaza. During the hospital tour, the WHO Director-General met personally with young patients and their distraught families, as well as the exhausted yet resolute frontline health workers who are tirelessly delivering life-saving treatment for traumatic injuries, advanced cancer cases, and a wide array of other serious medical conditions. This firsthand observation starkly emphasized the irreplaceable importance of the medical evacuation corridor operating smoothly through Jordan, while simultaneously underscoring the urgent, ongoing need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that children and other vulnerable populations can consistently access essential health care without disruption.
Demonstrating a comprehensive approach to health diplomacy, the Director-General also convened a high-level strategic roundtable meeting with key health partners, international donor countries, specialized United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropic organizations. The gathering served as a vital forum to deliberate on strategic financing priorities aimed at bolstering health system resilience in Jordan, while concurrently addressing ongoing humanitarian health action. Key agenda items included the necessary scaling up of comprehensive mental health services and the provision of robust, sustained support for nations that continue to shoulder the immense socio-economic and infrastructural responsibilities of hosting large refugee populations. Dr Tedros warmly welcomed the strong spirit of collaboration and the reaffirmed commitments of international partners to continue investing intelligently in the health architecture of Jordan and the wider region.
Further reinforcing domestic policy alignment, Dr Tedros held focused bilateral discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health. These talks honed in on pragmatic measures to reinforce Jordan’s national health system and systematically advance the overarching goal of universal health coverage. Notably, Jordan has consistently demonstrated remarkable global leadership by implementing a forward-thinking primary health care approach designed to achieve UHC. This includes the successful structural integration of mental health care into routine primary health services, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support seamlessly as an organic part of everyday medical care. The World Health Organization continues to provide vital technical and strategic support for this pioneering work, operating largely through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Adding a notable dimension to the diplomatic mission, the Director-General was accompanied throughout several high-profile engagements by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, participating in their official capacities as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mission. Archewell has previously provided critical support to a diverse array of WHO initiatives, ranging from advocating for equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation procedures and vital mental health programs in crisis zones. Prince Harry participated actively as a committed ally of WHO’s ongoing mental health advocacy, using the platform to articulate the absolute necessity of investing robustly in psychological well-being across diverse communities and emergency settings, with a specialized focus on addressing the often-overlooked mental health needs of men, young people, and children.
Reflecting on this high-profile collaboration, 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 in Jordan, Prince Harry shared his thoughts on the partnership and the Kingdom’s inspiring example. "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 intensive state visit transitions into its second day, Dr Tedros is scheduled to maintain a rigorous itinerary. He will visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a specialized facility supported by WHO that delivers comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services to individuals in need. Additionally, the Director-General will engage directly with local community leaders and influential women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss grassroots empowerment and community health resilience. He is also slated to tour the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to review recent technological and clinical advances in cancer treatment and explore avenues for deeper regional collaboration in oncology.
The high-level State visit will ultimately draw to a close following a series of supplementary engagements with international and domestic partners who provide critical backing to ongoing humanitarian operations. These final meetings will firmly reinforce Jordan’s indispensable, strategic role as a vital regional hub for medical evacuation, rapid emergency response, and long-term health system resilience throughout the Middle East.
[Paul Garwood, Communications Officer, WHO]
[WHO Media Team, World Health Organization]
