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. The diplomatic mission is designed to underscore and celebrate the remarkably strong partnership that exists between the global health agency and the Jordanian government across several critical domains, including universal health coverage (UHC), comprehensive mental health frameworks, and vital humanitarian health action in a region profoundly impacted by ongoing conflict and displacement.
A central and defining moment of the visit took place earlier today during a high-level meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. The audience underscored the deep significance of this State visit and served as a clear acknowledgment of Jordan’s unwavering national leadership in advancing health as both an essential domestic priority and a crucial pillar of global stability and security. Their extensive discussions focused heavily on strengthening resilient health systems, expanding equitable access to quality medical care, and sustaining international and regional support for emergency response operations. Particular attention was devoted to the pressing needs of the Palestinian people, specifically patients evacuated directly from Gaza to Jordan for specialized medical treatment, as well as the millions of refugees generously hosted by the Kingdom over successive decades of regional turmoil.
Expressing his profound gratitude following the audience, Dr Tedros addressed the King’s ongoing 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.”
Dr Tedros further elaborated on the Kingdom’s extraordinary 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.”
Continuing his intensive itinerary throughout the day, Dr Tedros visited a specialized hospital supported by the World Health Organization that provides advanced, critical care to children evacuated from the Gaza Strip. During the hospital tour, he spent meaningful time meeting with young patients and their families, as well as speaking directly with frontline health workers who are working tirelessly under challenging circumstances to deliver life-saving treatment for severe trauma injuries, advanced 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 urgent need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other individuals in dire need can safely access essential, life-saving care.
In addition to his clinical visits, the WHO Director-General convened a strategic, high-level meeting bringing together key health partners, donor countries, United Nations agencies, and leading philanthropic organizations. The primary objective of this gathering was to deliberate on crucial financing priorities aimed at reinforcing Jordan’s domestic health infrastructure and sustaining ongoing humanitarian health actions. Discussions during the roundtable specifically addressed the scaling up of integrated mental health services and the provision of adequate international backing for nations that shoulder the immense responsibility of hosting large populations of refugees. Dr Tedros warmly welcomed the robust collaboration and the deeply continued commitment demonstrated by these diverse partners to invest meaningfully in health outcomes both within Jordan and across the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
Earlier in the day, Dr Tedros also engaged in detailed bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. These talks centered tightly on concrete strategies for strengthening Jordan’s overall health system architecture and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has consistently demonstrated genuine global leadership by championing a primary health care approach to achieve UHC, notably through the successful integration of mental health services into routine care settings. This ensures that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support seamlessly as an organic component of everyday medical treatment. The World Health Organization continues to provide dedicated technical and strategic support to this vital work through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Adding a unique dimension of advocacy and high-level engagement to the State visit, Dr Tedros was accompanied during several key engagements by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan. The royal couple participated in their 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 a wide array of WHO initiatives, ranging from global campaigns for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to critical medical evacuation operations and comprehensive mental health support programs. During the joint engagements, Prince Harry participated actively as a vocal ally of WHO’s ongoing mental health advocacy, emphasizing the absolute necessity of investing robustly in mental health infrastructure across communities and emergency settings alike, with a particular focus on the unique vulnerabilities faced by men, young people, and children in crisis zones.
Reflecting on this collaborative partnership, Dr Tedros noted, “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 reflections on the journey and the shared mission. “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,” Prince Harry said. “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 first day of the diplomatic mission draws to a close, preparations are already underway for a comprehensive second day of activities. Dr Tedros is scheduled to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an institution supported extensively by WHO that delivers integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services to individuals in need. Furthermore, he is set to meet with influential community leaders and prominent women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, to discuss grassroots engagement and community resilience. His itinerary will also feature a dedicated visit to the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center, where he will engage with medical experts regarding cutting-edge advances in cancer care, research, and regional medical collaboration.
The high-level State visit will ultimately conclude with a series of final engagements with international partners who provide vital backing for humanitarian operations across the Middle East. These concluding meetings will serve to further reinforce Jordan’s indispensable, strategic role as a secure and reliable regional hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency responses, and long-term health system resilience.
For further information and media inquiries, please contact Paul Garwood, Communications Officer for the WHO, or reach out directly to the WHO Media Team at the World Health Organization headquarters.
