The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has concluded the first day of his high-profile two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The diplomatic mission has strongly underscored the robust and enduring partnership 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 volatile regional landscape.
A central moment of the high-level visit was a formal meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II, reflecting the profound importance of the State visit and acknowledging Jordan’s exemplary leadership in advancing health as both a national and a global strategic priority. Discussions between Dr Tedros and the Jordanian monarch focused intensively on reinforcing national health systems, expanding equitable access to essential care, and sustaining international support for emergency responses across the broader Middle East. Particular attention was devoted to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people, patients evacuated directly from Gaza to Jordan for specialized medical treatment, and the extensive population of refugees currently hosted within the kingdom.
Expressing his deep gratitude, Dr Tedros praised the Jordanian leadership during their discussions. "I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his unwavering commitment to advancing universal health coverage," said Dr Tedros. "I also extend my thanks to His Majesty and the people of Jordan for their remarkable solidarity and generosity in providing health services to more than three million refugees, primarily from Gaza and Syria, who are living in the country."
The WHO Director-General further emphasized Jordan’s wider contributions to regional stability and human 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."
Following the royal audience, Dr Tedros undertook a series of field visits, most notably to a WHO-supported hospital facility that provides specialized medical care to children evacuated from the conflict zone in Gaza. During the hospital tour, he met directly with young patients and their families, as well as the frontline health workers who are tirelessly delivering life-saving treatment for severe injuries, cancer, and other critical medical conditions. This poignant visit underscored the irreplaceable importance of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan, while highlighting the continuous need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that children and other vulnerable individuals can access essential, life-saving care without interruption.
In addition to his field engagements, the Director-General convened a high-level strategic meeting with key health partners, donor countries, various United Nations agencies, and philanthropic organizations. The roundtable discussion centered on critical financing priorities aimed at strengthening Jordan’s national health system and maintaining ongoing humanitarian health actions. Participants also addressed the pressing need to scale up mental health services and provide robust support to countries that host large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration and the continued financial and political commitment of international partners to invest in health infrastructure and services within Jordan and across the wider region.
As part of his official itinerary, Dr Tedros also held focused bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. These talks homed in on specific strategies for reinforcing the country’s health architecture and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has consistently demonstrated global leadership by adopting a primary health care approach to achieve UHC, which notably includes the integration of mental health services into mainstream healthcare delivery. This integration ensures that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support as an ordinary and routine component of their medical care. The World Health Organization continues to support these pioneering efforts through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Significantly, the Director-General 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 the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the WHO’s global mission. Over the years, Archewell has provided critical support to a wide range of WHO initiatives, ranging from promoting equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation and comprehensive mental health programs. During the visit, Prince Harry actively participated as an outspoken ally of the WHO’s mental health advocacy, highlighting the vital importance of investing in psychological well-being across diverse communities and emergency settings, with a particular focus on men, young people, and children who bear the psychological scars of conflict and displacement.
Reflecting on this 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 mission, Prince Harry shared his thoughts on joining the delegation. "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," said Prince Harry. "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."
The official State visit is scheduled to continue into a second day, packed with further high-level site visits and community engagements. Dr Tedros is slated to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a facility supported by the WHO that delivers integrated medical, psychological, and social services to those in need. Furthermore, he will meet with prominent community leaders and women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. His itinerary also includes a visit to the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center, where he will discuss recent advancements in cancer care, research, and regional medical collaboration.
The comprehensive State visit will officially conclude with additional meetings involving key partners who support ongoing humanitarian operations, thereby reinforcing Jordan’s indispensable role as a regional hub for medical evacuations, emergency health responses, and long-term health system resilience.
Reporting by Paul Garwood, Communications Officer, and the WHO Media Team, World Health Organization.
