Unprecedented number of Syrians in need of aid after 13 years of war
16 MARCH 2024, CAIRO, EGYPT – Thirteen years of conflict have left 16.7 million people requiring humanitarian aid and 15 million people 65% of the population – in need of health assistance in Syria. This is the largest number of people in need of humanitarian aid since the conflict began in 2011. “There are currently more Syrians in need of aid than any other time since the war began,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “An entire generation has been born into war, knowing nothing but insecurity and deprivation, and facing shock after repeated shock. We need to exert all e...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 16, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

Regional Director statement on Sudan
15 March 2024 I have just returned from Sudan, my first mission to an emergency country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region since I took office 5 weeks ago. I saw first-hand the devastation that decades of fragility, and nearly a year of brutal war, have wreaked on the country. “We lost many things this year that we will never be able to get back,” one Sudanese woman told me. I also learned about the immense challenges facing our humanitarian response as we work to reach all people in Sudan with life-saving aid. Sudan is currently facing the world’s largest displacement crisis. Almost 8.5 million people (inclu...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 15, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

Sudan to respond to new emergence of variant poliovirus in Red Sea State
A child is given the oral polio vaccine during a polio vaccination campaign, Sudan, November 2020. Photo credit: WHO/WHO Sudan11 March 2024, Port Sudan, Sudan – Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) will launch a polio vaccination campaign in April 2024 in response to a new emergence of variant poliovirus type 2 reported in January 2024. It was detected in six wastewater samples collected from September 2023 to January 2024 in the Port Sudan locality, Red Sea State. The FMOH, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has completed field investigations and a risk assessment to determine the extent of t...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 11, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

Childhood cancer control: pushing for progress in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region
11 March 2024 – Globally, more than 400 000 children and adolescents aged 0–19 years are diagnosed with cancer every year. Latest Global Cancer Observatory estimates for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region show that there were about 36 000 new cases of paediatric cancers and 16 500 deaths in 2022. Experts from every country and territory of the Region, international partners, and WHO colleagues from headquarters and various regional offices came together last week to accelerate action to fight childhood cancer. The occasion was a 2-day workshop on “Empowering progress: strengthening implementation of the WHO Global...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 11, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

WHO and Japan sign US$ 8 million agreement to support patients from Gaza Strip in Egypt
11 March 2024, Cairo, Egypt – A US$ 8 million grant agreement signed yesterday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Japan will provide essential support for critically ill patients evacuated from the Gaza Strip to Egypt for medical treatment. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Mr OKA Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, and Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative in Egypt. It was witnessed by Her Excellency Dr Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt; Dr Hossam Abdelghaffar, Assistant to the Minister of Health and Population for Institutional Reform, Egypt; and Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 11, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

Message by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on ...
Women’s Health and Gender Equality: Essential Elements for a Better Future Every year on the 8th of March, we mark International Women’s Day, and the entire month of March is dedicated to recognizing women’s achievements and advances despite numerous challenges. This year’s theme is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”, a call which is crucial that we embrace during these times of uncertainty. In a world confronted with manifold emergencies and crises, investing in women is more vital than ever. We need to invest in women’s and girls’ empowerment, health and well-being in all areas of life. This includ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 7, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

International Women ’s Day 2024: invest in women to accelerate progress
8 March 2024 – A call to invest in women’s and girls’ health, well-being, and empowerment in all areas of life goes out today, on International Women’s Day 2024. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean joins the world in marking the global day, this year themed “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”. This call is crucial in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, where women are affected by the impacts of multiple emergencies and crises, both human-made and natural in origin. This is on top of the various socioeconomic inequities and environmental, health system, social and behavioural determi...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 7, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

Health financing reforms needed to advance universal health coverage
5 March 2024, Rabat, Morocco ­– In a world facing numerous challenges, achieving universal health coverage remains crucial. More than half of the global population­ ­– some 4.5 billion people ­– lack full access to essential health care. Of this number, over 2 billion people experience financial hardship in accessing basic health care. Social inequities and barriers in access to health care most affect the poorest, most discriminated against and marginalized people globally. This has catastrophic impacts on their health and well-being. Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 6, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

World Obesity Day 2024: Fasting and obesity prevention
4 March 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Today, World Obesity Day 2024, is a chance to highlight the need to talk about obesity and youth. Obesity is a major health issue in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. More than half of women (53%), nearly half of men (45%) and an alarming 8% of school-aged children and adolescents are obese, while 20.5% are overweight. If no action is taken to address obesity, these figures are expected to rise. World Obesity Day this year coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. The daily fasting period, from dawn to sunset, offers a structured way to reset one’s relationship with food. It’s a cha...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 3, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

World Hearing Day 2024: a global call to change mindsets
As we approach World Hearing Day on 3 March 2024, the global community is gearing up to embrace its theme of “Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!” Communities across the world will observe the global day, which promotes awareness of hearing loss and advocates for ear care. This year’s theme invites us to rethink our approach to hearing health, given the urgent need for improved access and greater inclusivity.  Hearing loss is a widespread and often underestimated global health issue that affects people of all ages. In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, 78 million people ar...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 3, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

Regional Director opening remarks at EMRO press briefing
22 February 2024 Dear colleagues, ladies, and gentlemen, Good afternoon from WHO's Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt. I am honored to address you today as the newly appointed Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. As I begin my tenure, I'm deeply aware of the profound challenges our Region is facing. In Gaza, an entire population continues to face unimaginable violence and loss with nowhere left to flee, while levels of lifesaving-aid remain grossly insufficient. In Sudan, we are witnessing the world’s largest displacement crisis, as millions of people flee in search of safety within and outside the country. ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 22, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

WHO and Dubai ’s International Humanitarian City to send life-saving health supplies to Gaza Strip
21 February, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Amid a worsening health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) logistics hub in Dubai, in partnership with Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, will be delivering critical health supplies worth over US$ 1.7 million to the Gaza Strip. In total, 80 metric tonnes of life-saving medicines, including insulin, are being delivered through a temporary air bridge between the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Several air rotations are anticipated to deliver the supplies, which will support about 2 million people in the Gaza Strip. “WHO’s logistics hub in Dubai provi...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 21, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

WHO transfers critical patients out of Nasser Medical Complex, fears for safety of remaining ...
20 February 2024 – WHO led two life-saving missions to transfer 32 critical patients, including two children, from Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza on 18 and 19 February, amid ongoing hostilities and access restrictions. The high-risk missions were conducted in close partnership with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The team also provided limited supplies of essential medicines and food for the remaining patients and staff who are otherwise cut off from aid. Four PRCS ambulances ensured the safe transportation of the patie...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 20, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

International Childhood Cancer Day 2024: reducing the survival gap
14 February 2024  – On International Childhood Cancer Day 2024, we highlight the vital role of parents, as well as family doctors and paediatricians, in the early detection of childhood cancers. No one is more ready to invest in their children’s well-being than parents. By getting to know the early signs and symptoms of certain cancers and looking out for them, you could save your child’s life. Globally, more than 1000 children are diagnosed with cancer every day. Recent medical advances make for very high chances of survival in high-income countries, where more than 80% of children diagnosed with cancer w...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 13, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news

WHO, KSrelief sign new agreement to support over one million people in Gaza
6 February 2024, Cairo, Egypt – A US$ 10 million agreement signed today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) will provide more than one million people in Gaza with access to emergency life-saving health services. “The collaboration between WHO and KSrelief signifies a strategic, coordinated response to addressing urgent health needs in Gaza,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “KSrelief’s generous commitment will enable WHO to continue bolstering the health system, ensuring that people displaced by ongoing...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 6, 2024 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news