Crisis in Syria: 11 years on, health needs still urgent
16 March 2022 With the crisis in Syria now entering its twelfth year, the country’s fragile health system remains under the strain of multiple concurrent socioeconomic and health emergencies. They include the COVID-19 pandemic and uneven availability and quality of health services across the country that impact many Syrians’ physical and mental well-being. Those who cannot afford treatment are most affected by continuing disruptions of basic supply chains of life-saving medicines and medical supplies.
Nevertheless, even as their health needs remain urgent, the people of Syria remain resilient, hopeful, and determined....
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 16, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
Official launch of the regional Professional Diploma in Family Medicine
Cairo, 14 March 2022 – The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Arab Board of Health Specializations have launched a 2-year regional Professional Diploma in Family Medicine.
Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Dr Omar Al Rawas, Secretary General of the Arab Board of Health Specializations, inaugurated the launch virtually from the WHO Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt, on 28 February.
The Professional Diploma in Family Medicine is one of the fruits of a collaborative agreement between WHO and the Arab Board of Health Specializations to promote family practic...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 14, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
International Women ’s Day calls for gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow
8 March, 2022 – Every year on 8 March, the world marks International Women's Day to highlight the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women everywhere. This year’s theme ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ aims to recognize the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the way on climate change adaptation, mitigation and response, to build a healthier and more equal and sustainable future for all.
WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, noted the critical link between gender, climate and health and the essential contri...
Source: WHO EMRO News - March 8, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
Statement condemning killing of 8 polio health workers in Afghanistan
By Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
24 February 2022, Cairo, Egypt – I am shocked and deeply outraged by the killing of 8 polio health workers, 4 of them women, in Afghanistan today. I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those who have lost their lives.
As a result of these attacks, the national polio vaccination campaign, which began on 21 February 2022, has been suspended in Kunduz and Takhar provinces. This suspension leaves thousands of children unprotected and exposed to a life-threatening disease that can result in permanent para...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 24, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
COVID-19 triggers critical care and ICU capacity-building by WHO in fragile, conflict-affected ...
24 February 2022 – Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, most fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region had little or no intensive care unit (ICU) or critical care capacity, despite their dire need to respond to patients dying from gunshot wounds, lack of trauma care, and infectious diseases, among other factors.
With the emergence of COVID-19, the populations in these countries became the most at risk. In addition to their minimal access to critical care, any existing facilities became overwhelmed by COVID-19 waves and many health care workers were immediately shifted to provide ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 24, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
WHO validates the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Saudi Arabia
15 February 2022 On 26 January 2022, the World Health Organization validated Saudi Arabia as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the fourth country in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this milestone. Trachoma is a neglected tropical eye disease. Children acquire the infection at a young age. Inflammation can then lead to progressive scarring of the eye lid, with long-term consequences years or even decades later that can lead to blindness.
Saudi Arabia’s success in eliminating trachoma is largely attributed to the efforts of the Ministry of Health following the integration of ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 15, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
Qatari Prime Minister attends WHO ceremony awarding Healthy City status to Doha and Al Rayyan ...
Doha, 13 February 2022 His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, today attended a WHO ceremony awarding Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities “Healthy City” status and designating the Qatar Foundation’s Education City a “Healthy Education City”. The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Qatar Foundation, organized the ceremony to mark the event in Msheireb Downtown.
The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of the Qatar Foundation, Her Excellency Dr ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 13, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
WHO awards Healthy City status to Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities and designates Education ...
Doha, 13 February 2022 His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, today attended a WHO ceremony awarding Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities “Healthy City” status and designating the Qatar Foundation’s Education City a “Healthy Education City”. The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Qatar Foundation, organized the ceremony to mark the event in Msheireb Downtown.
The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of the Qatar Foundation, Her Excellency Dr ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 13, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
Regional Director statement on COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
9 February 2022 – In just a few days, we will see the 20th million person in our Region infected with COVID-19. Over the past 2 years, the losses due to the pandemic have been staggering, with more than 324 000 lives lost, major economic decline, social divisions, and family disruptions.
The virus continues to indiscriminately target people in all countries of the Region, regardless of age, gender, profession, or geographical location. But we know those who are most at risk of severe disease and death – the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions, the immunocompromised and front-line health workers. In our Region ...
Source: WHO EMRO News - February 9, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
In the battle against Omicron, vaccines continue to offer important protection
Cairo, 30 January 2022 – With the rapid spread of Omicron causing sharp increases in cases worldwide and leaving health systems overwhelmed, WHO urges for broader access to available COVID-19 vaccination in low coverage countries, prioritizing groups at higher risk of severe disease and death.
Weeks since its declaration as a variant of concern (VOC), the highly transmissible Omicron is now reported by almost every country in the world. While the Omicron VOC generally causes less severe disease compared to the Delta VOC, it can still lead to hospitalization and death, particularly in those who are unvaccinated.
Al...
Source: WHO EMRO News - January 30, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
In the battle against Omicron, vaccines continue to offer important protection against COVID-19
Cairo, 30 January 2022 – With the rapid spread of Omicron causing sharp increases in cases worldwide and leaving health systems overwhelmed, WHO urges for broader access to available COVID-19 vaccination in low coverage countries, prioritizing groups at higher risk of severe disease and death.
Weeks since its declaration as a variant of concern (VOC), the highly transmissible Omicron is now reported by almost every country in the world. While the Omicron VOC generally causes less severe disease compared to the Delta VOC, it can still lead to hospitalization and death, particularly in those who are unvaccinated.
Al...
Source: WHO EMRO News - January 30, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: from Neglect to Care
27 January 2022, Cairo – On 30 January, the world marks “World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day” to raise awareness about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as a critical public health challenge so that we can progress towards their elimination. The World Health Assembly adopted the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day unanimously last year upon a proposal from the United Arab Emirates This year’s focus is on achieving health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases and our Region wishes to emphasize the need to switch from neglect to care.
The campaign provides an opportunity to focus on the millions...
Source: WHO EMRO News - January 27, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
Regional Director statement on COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
The current COVID-19 situation in our Region continues to be of concern. As of 22 January 2022, there have been more than 18.2 million cases reported, and almost 320,000 deaths as a result of COVID-19. This marks a 37% increase in cases compared to the previous week, and a 186% increase in cases compared to the same time last year.
While we don’t have the exact figures from countries regarding hospitalizations attributed to Omicron, there is an increased burden on health care systems and health care workers as a direct result of the new variant that comprises the majority of new cases detected.
Many of us who were awar...
Source: WHO EMRO News - January 26, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
WHO and IFRC partnership aims to build regional capacity in responding to key public health ...
18 January 2022, Cairo-Beirut – The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari and the Regional Director of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Dr Hossam Elsharkawi, today signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration to support countries in the Middle East and North Africa respond effectively to key public health challenges.
The aims of the agreement between WHO and IFRC are to strengthen the support provided to countries in order to improve the health and well-being of populations living in emergencies, and protect and impr...
Source: WHO EMRO News - January 18, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
Statement by WHO ’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean at the media briefing on ...
13 January 2022 – Welcome to our first press briefing of 2022, and I wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year.
2021 was difficult for most of us. Despite the incredible progress made in developing effective tools to prevent and control the pandemic, including vaccines and therapeutics, we continued to see increasing numbers of people infected, too many of whom died of the disease.
As of 8 January 2022, the Eastern Mediterranean Region has reported almost 17.5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 317 000 deaths. During the first week of 2022, a total of 206 980 newly confirmed COVID...
Source: WHO EMRO News - January 12, 2022 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
