The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, concluded the first day of a significant two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan today. The visit serves as a powerful testament to the enduring and strategic partnership between the global health agency and the Kingdom, focusing on critical pillars of development including universal health coverage (UHC), the expansion of mental health services, and the coordination of humanitarian health action in a volatile region.
A centerpiece of the visit was a high-level meeting between Dr. Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. This dialogue underscored the vital importance of the visit, highlighting Jordan’s role as a beacon of stability and a leader in prioritizing health both as a national imperative and a global necessity. The discussions between the two leaders were extensive, covering the necessity of robust health system strengthening, the expansion of equitable access to care, and the urgent requirement for sustained international support regarding humanitarian emergencies. Specifically, the conversation centered on the plight of the Palestinian people, the logistical and medical requirements for patients evacuated from Gaza for treatment in Jordan, and the ongoing support provided to the millions of refugees hosted within the Kingdom’s borders.
Following the meeting, Dr. Tedros expressed his profound appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his unwavering commitment to the principles of universal health coverage. "I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his commitment to advancing universal health coverage," Dr. Tedros stated. He further extended his gratitude to the King and the Jordanian people, acknowledging their remarkable solidarity and generosity in providing essential health services to more than three million refugees, a population primarily composed of individuals displaced from Gaza and Syria who have found a safe haven in the country.
Dr. Tedros specifically lauded Jordan’s broader humanitarian initiatives, placing special emphasis on the "Medical Corridor" established under the King’s guidance. This initiative serves as a lifeline, delivering critical medical care to ill and injured children evacuated from Gaza who would otherwise lack access to life-saving treatment. "Jordan continues to show the world what it truly means to put health and humanity first," the Director-General noted, emphasizing that the Kingdom’s proactive stance is a model for global humanitarian response.
As part of his official itinerary, Dr. Tedros visited a WHO-supported hospital currently providing specialized care to children evacuated from Gaza. During this poignant visit, he met with young patients, their families, and the frontline health workers who are laboring under challenging circumstances to deliver life-saving treatment for complex injuries, cancer, and other serious medical conditions. This visit served to highlight the operational importance of the medical evacuation corridor through Jordan. It also underscored the urgent need for the international community to maintain and scale up support, ensuring that these vulnerable children and others in desperate need can continue to access essential, life-saving care.
In addition to his field visits, the Director-General convened a high-level meeting with an array of stakeholders, including key health partners, donor nations, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropies. The agenda for this meeting was focused on identifying and securing financing priorities to strengthen Jordan’s health infrastructure. Furthermore, the participants discussed the ongoing requirements for humanitarian health action, including the necessity of scaling up mental health services and supporting host nations that are currently accommodating large, sustained refugee populations. Dr. Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration and the renewed commitment of these partners to invest in the health landscape of Jordan and the wider region.
The Director-General also engaged in bilateral discussions with the Jordanian Minister of Health. These talks focused on the technical aspects of reinforcing Jordan’s health system and the continued advancement of universal health coverage. Jordan has established itself as a global leader in utilizing a primary health care approach to achieve UHC, particularly through its efforts to integrate mental health into routine care. This ensures that mental health support is not viewed as an isolated service but as a fundamental component of the primary health system. The WHO remains committed to supporting this integration through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health, which provides technical guidance and support to national health authorities.
A notable aspect of the visit was the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, who joined Dr. Tedros for several engagements. In their capacity as founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-standing supporters of the World Health Organization, the couple has been deeply involved in global health advocacy. Archewell has previously provided support for various WHO initiatives, ranging from the effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to the support of medical evacuation and mental health programs.
Prince Harry, participating as a dedicated ally of the WHO’s work on mental health, used the visit to emphasize the critical importance of investing in mental health across diverse communities and emergency settings. His advocacy work during the visit focused specifically on the needs of men, young people, and children, groups that are often disproportionately affected by the trauma associated with conflict and crisis.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Dr. Tedros stated, "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."
Prince Harry shared his reflections on the visit, stating, "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." He added, "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 State visit concluded, the agenda for the second day was set to continue this momentum. Dr. Tedros is scheduled to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a facility supported by the WHO that provides comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social services. His itinerary also includes meetings with influential community leaders and various women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. Furthermore, the Director-General will visit the King Hussein Cancer Center to engage in discussions regarding the latest advancements in cancer care and the potential for increased regional collaboration in oncology.
The visit is expected to conclude with additional high-level engagements with partners supporting humanitarian operations. These final meetings are designed to reinforce Jordan’s critical role as a regional hub for medical evacuation, emergency response, and the long-term resilience of health systems in the face of ongoing regional instability. Through these various engagements, the World Health Organization continues to demonstrate the importance of international cooperation in sustaining health services and fostering hope for those in the most challenging of circumstances.
