WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO)

  Today, WHO launched a 3-day interregional meeting in Cairo, Egypt, on private sector engagement – the first such meeting to be hosted by WHO globally. The meeting is a chance to discuss how to leverage the role of the private health sector in the regional flagship initiatives set out by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean: 🔹 Access to health care 🔹Substance use control 🔹Empowering the health workforce   In particular, the private sector could have an impact on the initiatives to strengthen the health workforce and the supply chain in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. About 26% of the poorest fifth in the Eastern Mediterranean said they use private health care for inpatient services. 42% of the poorest fifth said they use private outpatient services.   Now more than ever, it is also vital to engage the private sector to maintain and provide health services in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings, given the increasing needs. The number of displaced people in the Region continues to grow as people are forced from their homes by natural disasters, man-made causes and climate change impacts.

Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy on visit to the occupied Palestinian territory 11 July 2024, Cairo, Egypt -- I have just returned from the occupied Palestinian territory, where I visited the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jenin, and Gaza. The situation in Gaza is concerning on both a human and humanitarian level. I saw firsthand the scale of devastation: lives and homes in ruins, hospitals overwhelmed, and a fully destroyed city. Lack of fuel is compromising all health and humanitarian operations. Running sewage and garbage litter demolished streets, with the smell of fermented waste permeating the air. This situation is providing the perfect breeding ground for diseases to spread, leading to an increase in cases of acute watery diarrhea and acute respiratory infections. Ongoing violence and the breakdown of law and order are devastating an already crippled city and creating an extremely high-risk environment, not just for aid workers but everyone in Gaza. The breakdown of law and order also makes it nearly impossible to manage gender-based violence, exposing displaced Palestinians to additional life-threatening risks. I met with WHO staff in Gaza, many of whom are national staff who have faced personal loss and suffering. Despite these challenges, they continue to risk their lives to deliver fuel and medical supplies to hospitals, and transfer patients to safety and care, striving to overcome delays and obstructions along the way. More in the comments below ⬇

LIVE: Media briefing on global health issues with Dr Tedros

WHO 5-year milestone report on global trans fat elimination 2023 highlights six key actions towards a trans fatty acids free Eastern Mediterranean in which people no longer die because of TFA in their food 1️⃣ Countries with policies already in effect monitor and enforce those policies and apply for the WHO Validation Certificate: Egypt, Kuwait, Oman and United Arab Emirates. 2️⃣ The country with the WHO Validation Certificate continues their commendable efforts in monitoring and enforcement: Saudi Arabia. 3️⃣ All remaining countries in the region pass and implement best-practice policies. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan, both countries with less restrictive TFA limits, should strengthen their policies to align with global best practices. With best-practice policies in these two countries, the region will reach 80% of the TFA burden covered. 4️⃣ Trade blocs and subregional bodies pass and implement TFA elimination policies. 5️⃣ Companies manufacturing and selling products in the Eastern Mediterranean comply with national policies and discontinue using TFA even where policies are not yet in effect, prioritizing replacement of TFA with the healthiest oils possible. 6️⃣ WHO and partners work to strengthen the capacity of regulatory bodies, improve laboratory capacities for food analysis, and enhance overall regulatory infrastructure. Learn more ⬇️

In this edition of the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal read more about: 🔵telehealth 🔵digital health 🔵women's health 🔵electronic medical records 🔵road safety data systems #EMHJ https://lnkd.in/dxb_KsVp

Empowering regional emergency health responders and leaders: third cohort joins WHO–JHU Multiregional Training on Public Health in Complex Emergencies 🌍 Like other WHO regions, the Eastern Mediterranean Region faces increasingly complex public health threats, from infectious disease outbreaks to natural disasters and conflicts. To effectively respond to these challenges, we need a skilled and coordinated regional health workforce. We’re thrilled to welcome the third cohort to our groundbreaking WHO and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Joint Training on Public Health Skills in Complex Emergencies. This intensive training programme has been adopted and is generously hosted by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (with special thanks to Dr.Soha Al-Bayat.) The programme equips emergency responders and leaders with the knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities needed to navigate complex emergencies. Through a mix of theoretical learning, practical simulations and mentorship, participants will gain the expertise required to design and implement effective public health interventions in challenging environments. This initiative is a critical investment in building surge capacity, fostering regional collaboration and strengthening the regional health emergency workforce. By empowering the next generation of leaders, we ensure that communities everywhere are better prepared for future health crises. Dr. Samar Al-Mutawakel Marius Gilbert. Mija Ververs  #PublicHealth #ComplexEmergencies #EmergencyResponse #Training #WHO #JHU #QatarMOH #GlobalHealth #Cohort3 #Multiregional #LeadershipInEmergencies #GlobalHealthSecurity #HealthEmergencyCorps

Regional Director's statement during the press briefing on emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: When we held our first press briefing on health emergencies after I took office about four months ago, I could not have foreseen the escalation of violence in our Region. The situation has grown more relentless and unforgiving, while life-saving aid remains out of reach for too many whose lives depend on it. In Gaza, the health crisis continues to reach horrifying levels. Over a million people in Rafah have been displaced again since early May. Except for an ICRC field hospital, there are no functioning hospitals left in Rafah. At least 10 000 people are stuck within Gaza in desperate need of medical evacuations, although several countries around the world are ready to offer help. At the recent conference in Jordan on the Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza, I emphasized that our consistent calls for the protection of healthcare and sustained access to aid remain unmet. More in the comments below ⬇

In May 2024, the Eastern Mediterranean Region reported 33 779 new cholera cases across six countries, marking a 110% increase compared with the previous month. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated. Persistent gaps in access to safe water and sanitation are driving the cholera epidemic, which can be worsened by humanitarian crisis and conflicts. Read the full situation report here: https://lnkd.in/dXVgDEKK

Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region are the destination of over 56 million displaced people – all have the right to health. On #WorldRefugeeDay, let us renew our commitment to make quality health services: ✅Available ✅Acceptable ✅Accessible More than half of the countries and territories of the Region have grappled with emergencies in recent years. Currently, the Region has 16 graded emergencies, which have caused the internal displacement of millions of people – accounting for 40% of all internally displaced people worldwide. Many are women and children, and their displacement has disrupted their access to safe pregnancy and childbirth and routine vaccination. In a region facing numerous challenges, achieving universal health coverage – which must, by definition, include refugees – depends on resilient health systems. Both these fundamentals remain crucial to fulfilling the right to health. Engaging the host community effectively can lead to better health outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for refugees. Health system recovery post emergencies and the reintegration of returnees are intertwined, requiring multifaceted strategies to address the immediate and long-term needs of both. WHO’s “Strategy to promote the health and well-being of refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons and other displaced groups in the Eastern Mediterranean Region” seeks to address the health and well-being of people on the move in an inclusive and comprehensive manner.

On #WorldElderAbuseAwarenessDay, let's shine a light on a hidden problem. Globally, 1️⃣ in 6️⃣ people 6️⃣0️⃣ years and older experience some form of abuse that harms their physical and mental health and well-being, with serious financial and social consequences. ❗The number of older people who experience abuse is expected to increase from 1 billion in 2019 to 2.1 billion in 2050 as populations rapidly age. ❗❗ Rates of abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic Abuse of older persons can take many forms: ·        Physical abuse ·        Psychological or emotional abuse ·        Sexual abuse ·        Financial exploitation ·        Neglect /abandonment The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 offers a unique 10-year opportunity for a step change in how abuse of older people is tackled. To prevent the abuse of older people: ·        Combat ageism as it is a major reason why the abuse of older people receives so little attention ·        Generate more and better data on prevalence and on risk and protective factors; ·        Develop and scale up cost–effective solutions; ·        Make an investment case for addressing the issue; and ·        Raise funds to tackle the issue. #WEAAD2024 #AddingLifetoYears #DecadeofHealthyAgeing