WHO Director-General visits Jordan to recognize strong collaboration on health system delivery, emergency relief and advancing mental health
WHO
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), concluded his first day of a two-day state visit to Jordan, highlighting the strong collaboration between WHO and Jordan in areas such as universal health coverage (UHC), mental health, and humanitarian health action. The visit included a meeting with King Abdullah II, where discussions focused on strengthening health systems, expanding access to care, and supporting emergency responses in the region, particularly for Palestinian people, patients evacuated from Gaza, and refugees hosted in Jordan. Dr. Tedros praised Jordan’s leadership in advancing health as a national and global priority, emphasizing its commitment to UHC and humanitarian initiatives like the Medical Corridor program, which provides critical healthcare to children from Gaza.
During his visit, Dr. Tedros inspected a WHO-supported hospital in Amman treating patients evacuated from Gaza, including those with injuries, cancer, and other serious conditions. He met young patients, their families, and frontline health workers, underscoring the importance of medical evacuations and the need for sustained international support to ensure access to essential care. The Director-General also convened a high-level meeting with health partners, donors, UN agencies, and philanthropies to discuss financing priorities for strengthening Jordan’s health system and scaling up mental health services, particularly for refugee populations.
Dr. Tedros highlighted Jordan’s global leadership in integrating mental health into primary healthcare, a key component of its UHC strategy. WHO supports this work through initiatives like the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health. Additionally, Archewell Philanthropies, founded by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has supported WHO’s efforts in areas such as vaccine equity, medical evacuations, and mental health programs. Prince Harry emphasized the importance of investing in mental health across communities and emergency settings, particularly for men, young people, and children.
This visit underscores Jordan’s role as a global leader in healthcare and humanitarian action. Its commitment to UHC, mental health integration, and refugee support sets an example for other nations. The discussions on financing and partnerships highlight the importance of collaboration in addressing global health challenges, including mental health and emergency responses. Dr. Ted
Verticals
healthglobal
Originally published on WHO on 2/25/2026