World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has concluded the first day of his official two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, using the high-profile platform to underscore the enduring and robust partnership between the global health body and the Jordanian government. The visit highlights critical areas of collaboration, including universal health coverage, comprehensive mental health integration, and vital humanitarian health action across the Middle East.
A central highlight of the opening day was a high-level meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. The audience underscored the profound importance of the State visit and recognized Jordan’s steadfast leadership in championing health as both a national cornerstone and a vital global priority. Discussions during the royal audience focused heavily on strengthening resilient health systems, expanding equitable access to quality care, and sustaining international and regional support for emergency health responses. Particular attention was paid to the ongoing needs of the Palestinian people, patients evacuated from Gaza into Jordan for specialized medical treatment, and the millions of refugees generously hosted within Jordan’s borders.
Expressing his deep gratitude, Dr Tedros praised the Jordanian monarch during their discussions. "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 emphasized the kingdom’s broader humanitarian footprint in the region. "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," he added.
Following the royal meeting, Dr Tedros traveled to a specialized, WHO-supported hospital dedicated to providing advanced care to children who have been medically evacuated from Gaza. During the hospital tour, he spent time engaging directly with young patients and their families, as well as the courageous frontline health workers who are delivering life-saving treatment for severe injuries, cancer diagnoses, and other complex medical conditions. The poignant visit served to underscore the indispensable nature of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan, while simultaneously emphasizing the critical need for sustained international financial and logistical support to ensure that vulnerable children and other individuals in urgent need can continue to access essential, life-saving care without interruption.
Continuing a busy agenda, the WHO Director-General convened a high-level roundtable meeting involving key health partners, donor nations, various United Nations agencies, and leading philanthropic organizations. The strategic gathering was dedicated to discussing critical financing priorities aimed at bolstering health system strengthening within Jordan, as well as sustaining ongoing humanitarian health actions. Topics at the forefront of the discussion included scaling up accessible mental health services and reinforcing the capacities of countries that shoulder the heavy responsibility of hosting large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the strong collaboration and the continued, unwavering commitment of international partners to invest in health infrastructure and initiatives in Jordan and across the wider region.
Earlier in the day, Dr Tedros also held focused bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. Those talks centered heavily on practical strategies for further fortifying Jordan’s domestic health system and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Jordan has consistently demonstrated commendable global leadership by embedding a strong primary health care approach into its national framework to achieve universal coverage. Notably, this includes the successful integration of mental health services into routine care frameworks, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support seamlessly as an organic part of everyday healthcare. 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 of the day by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Participating in their capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and as long-standing, dedicated supporters of the World Health Organization’s global mission, the couple added considerable visibility to the visit. Archewell has previously provided vital support to a diverse range of WHO initiatives, spanning from ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to facilitating crucial medical evacuation and mental health support programmes. During the visit, Prince Harry actively participated as a prominent ally of WHO’s ongoing advocacy work surrounding mental health, emphasizing the urgent necessity of investing in psychological well-being across diverse communities and emergency settings. His remarks paid particular attention to the needs of men, young people, and children who find themselves navigating the trauma of crisis.
Reflecting on this high-profile partnership, 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."
Adding his perspective on the ground in Jordan, Prince Harry shared his thoughts on the collaboration and the country’s humanitarian ethos. "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 state visit transitions into its second day, Dr Tedros is scheduled to maintain a rigorous itinerary. His plans include a visit to Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts, a facility supported by WHO that delivers comprehensive and integrated medical, psychological, and social support services. In addition, he is slated to meet with prominent community leaders and women’s groups, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. He will also tour the renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to engage in discussions regarding recent advancements in specialized cancer care and the enhancement of regional medical collaboration.
The high-level State visit is set to conclude with a series of final engagements involving key international and local partners dedicated to supporting humanitarian operations. These concluding meetings will further reinforce Jordan’s indispensable role as a central regional hub for medical evacuations, rapid emergency responses, and long-term health system resilience.
For further information and media inquiries regarding the visit, representatives may contact Paul Garwood, Communications Officer at the World Health Organization, or reach out directly to the wider WHO Media Team at the World Health Organization headquarters.
