Select your language
Launch of first World Antibiotics Awareness Week from 16 to 22 November 2015
On the occasion of the first World Antibiotics Awareness Week, from 16 to 22 November 2015, the findings of a new WHO multi-country survey on antibiotic resistance are released showing that most people are confused about this major threat to public health and do not understand how to stop it from growing. Almost two thirds (64%) of some 10 000...
Iraq completes round one of oral cholera vaccination campaign
Baghdad, 12 November 2015 – This week, the Government of Iraq, with the support of WHO and UNICEF, completed the first round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign. The campaign has vaccinated 91% of the targeted population of 255 000 Syrian refugees and internally displaced Iraqis across 62 refugee and internally displaced persons camps in 13...
WHO responds to health needs following earthquake in Afghanistan and Pakistan
27 October 2015, Kabul, Afghanistan – Following the major 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan and Pakistan on 26 October, WHO is working closely with national health authorities in both countries to support emergency health services and rapidly assess the full extent of the health impact on affected populations. To support...
World Polio Day: statement by Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
On World Polio Day, our Region and the world is closer than ever to eradicating polio. 25 October 2015 – There has been real progress in eradicating polio from the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2015. The 2013–2014 polio outbreak in Somalia, which affected nearly 200 people, most of them children, has been officially declared over, 14 months...
World Polio Day: polio outbreak stopped in Middle East, experts remain cautious
25 October, 2015 | Beirut – Despite continuing conflict, declining immunization rates in conflict-affected areas and mass population displacement, no new polio cases have been reported in the Middle East for over 18 months, and experts believe the extensive multi-country outbreak response has been effective in stopping the outbreak. The outbreak, which...
WHO responds to deteriorating health situation in Taiz, Yemen
WHO urgently needs US$ 60 million to continue its life-saving response operations across the country until the end of 201520 October 2015, Sana’a, Yemen – Ongoing violence and insecurity continue to limit the delivery of aid in Taiz governorate in Yemen, where more than 3.3 million people, including 300 585 internally displaced persons, are in...
62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee concludes in Kuwait
Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, HE Dr Ali Al Obaidi, Minister of Health of Kuwait, Dr Jaouad Mahjour, WHO Director, Programme Management, at the closing session of WHO’s 62nd session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern MediterraneanKuwait, 8 October 2015 – The World Health Organization Regional Committee for...
Regional Committee continues discussions on strategic health priorities
7 October 2015 -- The 62nd session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean continued its discussions yesterday in Kuwait on regional and global strategic health priorities. The day's sessions focused on implementation of the United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable...
WHO Regional Committee opens in Kuwait; highlights WHO's role in emergency response
5 October 2015 – The opening ceremony of the 62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean took place in Kuwait today in the presence of more than 200 people, including the representatives of 22 ministries of health from the countries of the Region. His Excellency Mr Said El Aidi, Minister of Health of Tunisia,...
62nd Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, Kuwait, 5–8 October 2015
4 October 2015 -- The 62nd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean opened on Monday evening, 5 October 2015, in Kuwait City. Working sessions will start the following morning. As WHO’s governing body at the regional level, the Regional Committee consists of representatives of all 22...
