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Statement by Dr Mahmoud Fikri on the occasion of International Women's Day, WHO Regional Director
8 March 2017 – Today the global community celebrates a very distinguished occasion, International Women’s Day, under the inspirational slogan be bold for change. Many achievements have been made for and by women in recent decades. We have witnessed a substantial reduction in maternal mortality ratio in our region through improved access to...
WHO responds to reported use of chemical weapons agents in East Mosul, Iraq
3 March 2017 – Following the reported use of chemical weapons agents in East Mosul, Iraq, WHO, partners and local health authorities have activated an emergency response plan to safely treat men, women and children who may be exposed to the highly toxic chemical. Since 1 March, 12 patients including women and children with respiratory symptoms...
WHO airlifts cholera and tuberculosis medical supplies to Yemen
23 January 2017, Sana’a – Today a cargo plane carrying 8 metric tonnes of cholera kits and tuberculosis medicines landed in Yemeni capital, Sana’a. The cholera kits include anti-diarrhoeal treatment for 12 000 people, as well as cholera laboratory equipment and rapid diagnostics tests. Part of the airlift coming from Djibouti are also...
WHO steps up medical preparations in response to west Mosul operations
Baghdad, Iraq, 28 February 2017 – As military operations in west Mosul, Iraq, begin, the World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up its response in support of the Ministry of Health to meet the urgent health needs of 750 000 west Mosul residents who are expected to require trauma care and basic health services. Additional trauma stabilization points,...
WHO scales up response in Somalia as drought-affected populations face difficult situation
Cairo, 27 February 2017 – The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up its response in Somalia to provide critical health services for 1.5 million people currently affected by severe drought conditions and a worsening food crisis. However, the Organization urgently requires US$ 10 million as part of the United Nations appeal for the first 6...
Regional Director meets Egyptian Minister of Health and Population
Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Dr Ahmed Emad Eldin Rady, Minister of Health and Population of Egypt19 February 2017 – On 16 February, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Mahmoud Fikri received the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Dr Ahmed Emad Eldin Rady at the WHO...
Urgently needed medicines and medical supplies delivered to east Mosul
Erbil 15 February 2017 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has responded to an acute shortage of medical supplies in the newly retaken areas of Mosul by delivering medicines and other medical supplies to 16 primary health centers, one hospital and the Directorate of Health (DOH) in Ninewa. The donation will support treatment of patients with...
Urgent routine immunization services to resume in Ninewa
Erbil, 15 February 2017 – After over 2 years of suspended routine immunization activities in Mosul and the surrounding districts, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, have trained 30 vaccinators from the recently taken areas in east Mosul and Salahuddin to help revitalize routine immunization...
Historic commitment from African Heads of State to advance immunization in Africa
31 January 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Today, Heads of State from across Africa endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization, also known as the Ministerial Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization, a historic and timely pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa – regardless of who they are or where they live – receives the full benefits of...
Efforts ongoing to provide trauma care to people in need in Mosul, Iraq
Cairo, 25 January 2017 – As the conflict in Mosul intensifies and greater numbers of civilians are caught in the crossfire, WHO and partners have increased trauma care services to ensure that patients requiring medical care for injuries have a greater chance of survival. However, additional funds are needed in order to provide a full scale of...
