WHO Chief Dr Tedros Praises Jordan’s Humanitarian Leadership During High-Level State Visit Accompanied by Prince Harry and Meghan

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has officially concluded the first day of a significant two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The diplomatic mission was designed to underscore the robust, long-standing partnership between the global health body and the Jordanian government, focusing heavily on universal health coverage (UHC), comprehensive mental health frameworks, and critical humanitarian health actions. Throughout the opening day, discussions centered on bolstering regional health systems, expanding equitable access to medical care, and sustaining urgent humanitarian responses for vulnerable populations across the Middle East, including refugees and patients evacuated from conflict zones.

A defining moment of the visit was a high-level official meeting between Dr Tedros and His Majesty King Abdullah II. This high-profile encounter highlighted Jordan’s prominent role and visionary leadership in championing health as both a vital national security priority and an indispensable global public good. Talks between the WHO chief and the Jordanian monarch focused on strategic initiatives to fortify national health infrastructure, widen community-level access to medical services, and secure sustained international backing for regional emergency responses. Particular emphasis was placed on the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, critically ill and injured patients evacuated directly from Gaza to Jordanian medical facilities, and the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have found safety within Jordan’s borders.

Following the meeting, Dr Tedros expressed profound gratitude for the nation’s steadfast humanitarian ethos. "I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his commitment to advancing universal health coverage," Dr Tedros stated. "I also extend my thanks to His Majesty and the people of Jordan for their solidarity and generosity in providing health services to more than three million refugees, primarily from Gaza and Syria, who are living in the country."

Dr Tedros further commended Jordan’s broader humanitarian footprint, explicitly praising His Majesty’s Medical Corridor initiative. This vital logistical and humanitarian lifeline delivers specialized, life-saving care to seriously ill and injured children evacuated from Gaza. "Jordan continues to show the world what it truly means to put health and humanity first," he added.

On-Site Medical Visits and Direct Engagement with Frontline Workers

To witness the practical application of these humanitarian efforts firsthand, Dr Tedros traveled to a specialized, WHO-supported hospital facility dedicated to treating pediatric patients evacuated from the Gaza Strip. During the hospital tour, the WHO Director-General engaged directly with young patients, their families, and the dedicated frontline health workers who are tirelessly delivering intensive, life-saving treatments for severe traumatic injuries, complex pediatric cancers, and other life-threatening medical conditions.

This poignant visit underscored the irreplaceable value of the medical evacuation corridor operating through Jordan. It simultaneously served as an urgent appeal to the international community for sustained financial and logistical support to ensure that children and other acutely vulnerable patients can continue crossing safely to access necessary tertiary care.

In addition to clinical visits, Dr Tedros convened a strategic, high-level consultation with key health partners, international donor governments, various United Nations agencies, and prominent philanthropic organizations. The roundtable discussion zeroed in on critical financing priorities required to reinforce Jordan’s broader health system. Participants also evaluated ongoing humanitarian health operations, specifically targeting the scaling up of integrated mental health services and the provision of adequate international burden-sharing for nations hosting exceptionally large refugee populations. Dr Tedros welcomed the active collaboration and unwavering financial commitments shown by international partners toward investing in resilient health architectures throughout Jordan and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.

Bilateral Talks on Primary Health Care and Mental Health Integration

As part of the intensive diplomatic schedule, Dr Tedros held focused bilateral discussions with Jordan’s Minister of Health. These talks concentrated on structural enhancements to the national health system and accelerated progress toward achieving universal health coverage.

Public health experts note that Jordan has consistently demonstrated pioneering global leadership by embedding a robust primary health care approach into its national strategy to attain UHC. A cornerstone of this strategy is the seamless integration of mental health services directly into routine primary care clinics, ensuring that citizens and residents alike can access psychological support without encountering traditional institutional barriers or social stigmas. The WHO has continuously provided technical and operational support to this vital work, largely channeled through the Director-General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.

High-Profile Participation by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

A unique dimension of the State visit was the active participation of Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who accompanied Dr Tedros on several key engagements. Traveling in their official capacities as the founders of Archewell Philanthropies and long-standing global advocates for the WHO’s health initiatives, the couple brought international attention to the pressing intersection of humanitarian crises and psychological well-being.

Archewell Philanthropies has historically partnered with the WHO on numerous high-impact public health campaigns, ranging from advocating for equitable global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to supporting complex medical evacuation pipelines and mental health intervention programs in fragile settings. During the Jordan visit, Prince Harry participated actively as a leading global ally of the WHO’s mental health mandate. He emphasized the critical necessity of investing heavily in community-level psychological support, particularly for populations navigating active emergencies, with targeted outreach tailored for men, adolescents, and children.

Reflecting on the collaborative mission, Dr Tedros remarked: "I want to thank our partners, including Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, whose commitment to mental health and humanitarian action has helped bring visibility, resources and hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Their collaboration is helping to advance WHO’s mission to ensure health for all."

Prince Harry echoed these sentiments during a joint appearance, highlighting the extraordinary resilience observed on the ground. "It is an honour to join the Director-General of the World Health Organization in Jordan, a country that is leading by example in compassion, resilience and innovation," Prince Harry said. "Through our work with Archewell Philanthropies, my wife and I have seen first-hand the impact of WHO’s efforts to support mental health and deliver life-saving care in emergencies. We remain deeply committed to advancing awareness, reducing stigma and expanding access to mental health support for all those affected by conflict and crisis. Mental health is fundamental to recovery, dignity and long-term peace, and we are proud to stand with WHO and partners around the world to make it a global priority."

Background Context: Jordan’s Structural Role as a Humanitarian and Medical Hub

Jordan’s strategic geographic position in the Middle East has historically placed it at the epicenter of major regional displacement crises. Despite facing its own economic constraints, structural water scarcity, and limited natural resources, the Hashemite Kingdom has maintained an open-door policy for refugees for decades. According to official figures cited by international bodies, the country currently hosts over three million registered refugees. This population is predominantly composed of Palestinians and Syrians, alongside smaller communities from Iraq, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa.

The integration of millions of refugees into national public services has placed an immense, compounding burden on Jordan’s public health infrastructure. Hospitals and primary healthcare clinics frequently operate at or above maximum capacity. Consequently, international partnerships—particularly those facilitated by the WHO, UN agencies, and bilateral donors—remain indispensable for maintaining the operational integrity of Jordan’s health sector. The country’s ability to absorb shockwaves from regional conflicts, such as the ongoing devastation in Gaza, depends almost entirely on the maintenance of reliable external financing, robust medical supply chains, and dedicated humanitarian corridors.

Looking Ahead: Day Two Itinerary and Strategic Engagements

The second and final day of Dr Tedros’s State visit features a robust itinerary aimed at inspecting specialized care facilities and community-level social infrastructure. The WHO Director-General is scheduled to visit Jordan’s National Center for Rehabilitation of Addicts. Supported extensively by the WHO, this specialized facility provides comprehensive, integrated medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, reflecting Jordan’s holistic approach to public health.

Additionally, Dr Tedros will meet with prominent community leaders and grassroots women’s organizations, including representatives from the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), to discuss community resilience and grassroots health empowerment. He will also tour the internationally renowned King Hussein Cancer Center to review advanced oncology care protocols, discuss regional clinical training partnerships, and explore opportunities for expanded international collaboration in specialized cancer treatment.

The high-level State visit is set to conclude with a final series of strategic consultations with key international partners, institutional donors, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to supporting humanitarian operations across the Levant. These closing engagements are expected to firmly reinforce Jordan’s irreplaceable status as a premier regional hub for emergency medical evacuations, rapid disaster response, and long-term health system resilience.

Media Contacts & Institutional Information

Paul Garwood
Communications Officer
World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO Media Team
World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters