Cairo, 21 October 2021– In order to control a disease like COVID-19, scientist need to better understand the evolution of the virus, as well as how it mutates into different strains. Throughout the course of the pandemic, genome sequencing is vital in detecting, identifying, and understanding the evolution and genomic diversity of COVID-19....

18 October 2021 - We have just concluded the 68th session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, which was held remotely from 11 to 14 October 2021. This session was held under the theme “Rebuilding better and fairer: stronger systems, resilient communities”. It is a profound slogan that summarizes the goals that we aspire to...

13 October 2021, Cairo ‒ The 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean resumed its session today tackling the Region’s most pressing public health issues through technical papers and panel discussions. Today’s three technical papers emphasized key health concerns and proposed a strategy for integrated disease...

13 October 2021 - The third meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks took place on Tuesday 12 October as part of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region’s Sixty-eighth session of the Regional Committee. Dr Hala Zayed, Minister of Health and Population, Egypt, and Co-Chair for the Subcommittee, reported back to Member...

12 October 2021, Cairo ‒ The WHO 68th session of the Regional Committee started its programme today with a presentation by Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, on the 2020 Annual Report. Dr Al-Mandhari outlined the main actions taken over the past two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as an...

Cairo, 11 October 2021 ‒ The 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean was inaugurated today in Cairo by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and H.E. Dr Hala Zayed, Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population and chair of last year’s...

7 October 2021, Cairo ‒ As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean will be held virtually for a second year. Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 22 countries of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, along with partner organizations and civil society, will...

23 September 2021 – The Eastern Mediterranean Region, which I represent, covers 22 countries from northern Africa, across the Middle East and as far as parts of southern Asia.  It was beset by multiple crises even before the COVID-19 pandemic – and is home to 43% of people who need humanitarian assistance globally, and the source 64% of the...

19 September 2021, Beirut, Lebanon – We have just concluded a two-day visit to Beirut, Lebanon to reiterate our commitment to the people of Lebanon and express our solidarity and continued support. Since the Beirut port blast last year, the country and its people have slipped even further into despair. The current economic crisis has increased...

17 September 2021 – I join Dr Tedros in thanking you – the media – as well as all health workers, civil society, donors, UN sister agencies and health partners for the enormous efforts made, particularly over the past two years, to prioritize the well-being of people in Lebanon and ensure the continuity of health care delivery. Over the past two...