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I extend a warm welcome to all of you gathered here for this significant media briefing, which precedes the Seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. This important assembly will take place from October 14 to 17 in the vibrant city of Doha, Qatar, with an urgent thematic focus: “Health Beyond Borders: Action, Access, Equity.”<\/p>\n
This year, as I embark on my inaugural journey as Regional Director, our meeting unfolds against a backdrop of relentless conflict, poised to threaten the very fabric of life and the sustenance of millions throughout the Region.<\/p>\n
In the past twelve harrowing months, the ongoing turmoil in Gaza has obliterated 6% of its population\u2014killed or injured. Tragically, the most vulnerable\u2014women and children\u2014are left grappling with enduring disabilities. A staggering 90% of Gaza\u2019s residents have been forcibly displaced, crammed into shelters that provide scant access to food, water, or healthcare. The situation is exacerbated by continuous evacuation orders issued recently, forcing families to move yet again.<\/p>\n
The healthcare landscape in Gaza is dire, as the roster of medical professionals dwindles; nearly 1,000 health workers have lost their lives, according to the Ministry of Health. Today, Gaza stands as one of the most perilous locations for UN operations, with a chilling toll of 289 UN staff killed since October 2023.<\/p>\n
A mere fraction\u2014less than half\u2014of all hospitals remain operational, hampered by damaged infrastructure, fuel shortages, and assaults on essential services. Astonishingly, three hospitals in northern Gaza have been ordered to evacuate within the last 48 hours. Amidst this chaos, we must laud the resilience of Gaza\u2019s healthcare workers, who continue their noble fight under unimaginably challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n
Despite 15,600 requests for medical evacuations, only 5,130 have received approval, leaving countless Gazans abandoned and devoid of crucial care. An alarming 96% of the population endures food insecurity, while malnutrition, virtually nonexistent in the past, has surged\u2014especially among children. The re-emergence of diseases such as polio looms large, fueled by unsanitary conditions that aggravate outbreaks of diarrhea and hepatitis A. The specter of diminished immunization rates amplifies these risks.<\/p>\n
For a year now, the WHO and its partners have echoed a clarion call for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza; yet the situation continues to spiral downward, both in the occupied Palestinian territory and the surrounding Region.<\/p>\n
The rise in violence in Lebanon is equally troubling. Since last year\u2019s October, nearly 12,000 lives have been lost or shattered, with over 540,000 individuals displaced within their own country. Healthcare professionals are trapped in a relentless cycle of addressing urgent needs in a system battered by relentless shocks.<\/p>\n
WHO has confirmed 36 assaults on health facilities, leading to the tragic deaths of 77 healthcare workers, while 74 others sustained injuries, including 28 fatalities and two injuries in a single day just last week. The protection of both civilians and healthcare cannot merely be a legal or ethical obligation; it must be a steadfast commitment. The terrorism of attacks on healthcare must not continue to characterize conflicts in this beleaguered Region.<\/p>\n
Turning our eyes to Sudan, we confront a humanitarian catastrophe of unprecedented scale\u2014hunger and displacement proliferate. Over 10.8 million citizens are now internally displaced, with 25.6 million in dire need of food and medical assistance. Sudan’s health infrastructure is teetering on the brink, with 75% of health facilities in Khartoum non-functional, a crisis even more severe in the western Darfur states. Amidst this agony, children and mothers perish for lack of access to healthcare, while cholera menaces many regions. Aid workers face daunting barriers, besieged by access denials and perilous security risks. If we do not act swiftly, famine and disease could unleash further devastation.<\/p>\n
Yet there are glimmers of hope\u2014demonstrated by the recent polio vaccination initiative in Gaza, which succeeded in reaching 560,000 children, and the reopening of the Adre crossing into Sudan, permitting critical supplies to reach isolated communities. Such accomplishments remind us that impactful change is indeed possible, even in crisis. However, these moments remain all too infrequent. The urgency for sustained action is paramount. Political solutions must move to the forefront before violence consumes the entirety of this Region.<\/p>\n
The stark reality demands recognition: over 100 million individuals\u2014one in six\u2014are currently in need of humanitarian assistance in our Region. The implications are profound; we cannot allow future generations to inherit the ramifications of inaction. Those wielding the authority to cease violence and establish peace shoulder a monumental responsibility. The time for decisive action is not just near; it is long overdue.<\/p>\n
Colleagues, <\/p>\n
Having reflected on these grave issues, I will now present a brief outline of the objectives for this year’s Regional Committee.<\/p>\n
During this Seventy-first session, I will unveil the Regional Strategic Operational Plan 2025\u20132028, meticulously crafted to align the WHO’s global objectives\u2014promoting, providing, protecting, powering, and performing for improved health\u2014with the distinct realities of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.<\/p>\n
This operational plan is anchored in three flagship initiatives: fostering timely and equitable access to life-saving medicines and vaccines; fortifying a more resilient healthcare workforce; and mitigating the morbidity, mortality, and broader societal impacts of substance use disorders.<\/p>\n
These initiatives aim to propel the Regional Strategic Operational Plan forward, which we intend to present for review and hopefully, endorsement, by Member States.<\/p>\n
The Regional Committee will engage in discourse surrounding pressing public health issues, technical papers, and a plethora of side events. Technical documents will explore diverse topics, from antimicrobial resistance and health information systems to addressing the burden of trauma in humanitarian crises and enhancing mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies. Sadly, enmeshed in conflict, many countries in this Region face an ever-pressing demand for these critical supports.<\/p>\n
Antimicrobial resistance represents a burgeoning global health crisis. The Eastern Mediterranean Region holds the record for the highest\u2014and fastest escalating\u2014rates of antibiotic usage among all WHO regions. The misuse and overuse of these vital treatments are accelerating the proliferation of drug-resistant infections. If we neglect this urgent matter, AMR could precipitate 39 million deaths by the year 2050\u2014equating to three lives lost every minute. We must act decisively to bolster antimicrobial stewardship now.<\/p>\n
The Eastern Mediterranean also grapples with increasing trauma as a consequence of the numerous crises plaguing the Region. Yet many of the already fragile health systems in humanitarian settings are in disarray, hampering health workers’ ability to deliver essential services.<\/p>\n
A technical paper will propose a framework for collaborative action integrating WHO’s people-centered approach into regional trauma care agendas. This framework is guided by the SWIFT principle\u2014interventions must be Safe, Workable, Intuitive, Fair, and Timely.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, we will examine health information systems through a technical paper outlining a new strategy aimed at enhancing and digitalizing national systems. This framework seeks to empower countries to generate high-quality, timely, relevant, and disaggregated data for effective policy-making and progress tracking toward the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n
Mental health accounts for 5.1% of the global disease burden, with a staggering 5.4% within our Region. A technical paper introducing a regional action plan for mental health and psychosocial support\u2014encompassing the years 2024 to 2030\u2014will be scrutinized during the committee, seeking endorsement from member states.<\/p>\n
Among the discussions set to unfold, panelists will explore the nuanced landscape of artificial intelligence, evaluating its potential to foster universal health coverage and security throughout the Region, while carefully considering inherent risks.<\/p>\n
Health ministers and other attendees will also receive the latest updates from the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) and the ongoing polio eradication efforts within the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Additionally, we will shed light on the current health and humanitarian crisis engulfing the occupied Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, I encourage you to navigate the Regional Committee website, where you can access technical papers and pertinent RC documentation, including the provisional agenda and updates on previously addressed health threats outlined in former Regional Committee resolutions.
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