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20 July 2025, Cairo, Egypt – In her visit to Afghanistan from 29 June to 1 July 2025, WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy focused on polio eradication efforts, substance use treatment and other priority areas.
Dr Balkhy met with national leaders and partners, including UN representatives and diplomats. In her meeting with the Minister of Public Health H.E. Noor Jalal Jalali, Dr Balkhy discussed progress on polio eradication and the challenges facing the Polio Programme, and the 3 flagship initiatives, with a focus on strengthening Afghanistan’s national regulatory authority, building the capacity of laboratory personnel and establishing a national dialogue on substance use.
Dr Balkhy offered WHO support in developing a national rehabilitation and reintegration plan and expressed WHO’s keenness to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health on a national health policy addressing key issues such as One Health, substance use and road traffic accidents.
Dr Balkhy also met with representatives from the embassies of Pakistan, Indonesia and Türkiye, the World Bank, the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the Polio Programme and request support for Programme activities and other health priorities.
An estimated 4 million people suffer from substance use disorders in Afghanistan. Visiting the 100-bed Female and Children Drug Addiction Treatment Centre in Kabul, Dr Balkhy praised the strength and resilience of women receiving treatment and stressed that everyone deserves a chance to heal.
In a meeting with Ms Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Dr Balkhy explored ways to address Afghanistan's pressing health priorities, including support for returnees and bridging funding gaps.
She also met the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan HE Zhao Xing, and with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kabul Ms Indrika Ratwatte.
In all her meetings, Dr Balkhy highlighted the importance of working together to improve the well-being of the Afghan people, the urgent need for collaboration and solidarity in addressing Afghanistan's growing health needs, and for collective action to build a healthier, more resilient future for all Afghanis.
Selected photos from the mission
Dr Hanan Balkhy met HE Zhao Xing Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan
Dr Hanan Balkhy visited the Drug Addiction and Treatment Center in Kabul
Dr Hanan Balkhy with Acting Minister of Public Health Noor Jalal Jalali
Dr Hanan Balkhy meeting with Ms Roza Otunbayeva, special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA
4 June 2025, Cairo, Egypt –World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), observed each year on 14 June, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their lifesaving gifts of blood.
A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. This year’s banner, Give blood, give hope – together we save lives, underscores the lifesaving impact of blood transfusion and how, by donating regularly, we can all play a part in building a healthier, more compassionate world.
In low-income countries, women of childbearing age and children under 5 are among the most frequent recipients of blood. Blood transfusions provide lifesaving support for women experiencing bleeding related to pregnancy and childbirth and for children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria or malnutrition.
Access to safe blood remains a pressing concern in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region where many countries fall below the WHO recommended minimum of 10 blood donations per 1000 people per year. Each blood donation has the potential to save up to 3 lives. Despite some advances, voluntary non-remunerated donations often account for less than 50% of the blood supply.
In a Region facing complex challenges due to ongoing humanitarian emergencies, blood shortages can lead to life-threatening situations for vulnerable groups and victims of conflict or disaster.
“Voluntary blood donation can save lives and bring hope,” says WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Hanan Balkhy. “We commend every blood donor whose selfless act of generosity brings hope to the lives they touch.”
Stringent safety protocols make the blood donation process safe for donors and recipients. By ensuring that hospitals have the blood they need for surgeries and emergencies, at all time, we ensure access to a lifesaving health product for those who need it, and cultivate a culture of community support.
To ensure that everyone who needs a transfusion has access to safe blood, countries rely on a pool of voluntary, unpaid donors who give blood regularly. A strong and sustainable blood donor programme, with broad, active participation from the community, is essential to meet the need for blood.
WHO calls on all stakeholders – individuals, communities, governments, partners and civil society – to work together to ensure that every patient who needs blood can receive it.
“We urge governments, partners and communities to invest in developing sustainable, regulated blood systems that enhance the collection of blood from voluntary, unpaid donors. To our youth – your donation can save lives. Together, we can give blood and, in doing so, give hope,” adds Dr Balkhy.
As part of the activities marking WBDD 2025, the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the WHO Country Office in Egypt, in collaboration with Egypt’s National Blood Transfusion Service, are organizing a blood donation drive in the Regional Office where WHO staff can donate blood and contribute to this momentum.
Note to editors
For additional statistics and information, please refer to the WHO's website
9 April 2025 – The Sultanate of Oman welcomed World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy for a 1-day visit, on Wednesday, 9 April 2025, to reinforce collaboration to advance Health for All in Oman and the Region. The highlight of the visit was the launch of Oman’s National Health Policy (NHP), an updated framework aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040 that prioritizes sustainability, governance and cross-sector partnerships. Designed to be adaptable to emerging global health developments, the policy lays the foundation for a more efficient, equitable and resilient health system.
The launch ceremony, held under the patronage of H.E. Sayyid Dr Sultan bin Ya'arub Al Busaidi, Advisor in the Private Office, was attended by Minister of Health Dr Hilal Ali Al-Sabti, Dr Balkhy, high-ranking officials and representatives from Oman’s health sector and international organizations. Dr Balkhy emphasized how Oman’s NHP aligns with WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme 2025–2028, the Regional Strategic Operational Plan 2025–2028 and WHO’s regional flagship initiatives on access to medicines, health workforce development and substance use control. Dr Balkhy also used the occasion to reiterate that health and well-being are shared societal responsibilities.
Following the launch, the Minister of Health met with Dr Balkhy to discuss strengthening collaboration with WHO under the country cooperation strategy to meet shared health and development goals. Later, Undersecretary for Health Planning and Health Organization Dr Ahmed Salem Al-Mandhari welcomed Dr Balkhy and the WHO Oman team. Their discussions centred on the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach which is grounded in the principle of ‘Health for All, by All’ and highlights the collective, multisectoral provision of health services.
Key strategic priorities discussed during Dr Balkhy’s visit included HiAP, health system resilience, antimicrobial resistance control and multisectoral collaboration.
Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director and H.E. Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, MOH’s Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation
Launch of Oman National Health Policy
Launch of Oman National Health Policy