The head of the World Health Organization has called for urgent action on health in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke on October 14 at a regional health meeting in Cairo, Egypt.
The region is home to some of the world’s worst crises, including Sudan, Yemen and the occupied Palestinian territory. More than 117 million people need humanitarian assistance. It also hosts some of the largest displacement crises in the world.
Diseases and attacks on care
Noncommunicable diseases cause about two thirds of all deaths in the region. Heart disease, cancer and diabetes claim more than 2.8 million lives every year. At the same time, conflict keeps damaging hospitals and clinics.
Health officials report an appalling number of attacks on healthcare. Climate shocks add more pressure on already weak health systems.
Funding falls as needs rise
Sudan’s crisis shows how war destroys health systems. Hospitals have been shelled and looted. Millions of displaced people live in camps with little clean water. Cholera and other diseases spread quickly in such conditions.
Yemen faces similar hardship after years of conflict. Children suffer from malnutrition at alarming rates. Aid workers struggle to reach remote areas with food and medicine.
Local health workers carry much of the burden. Many work without pay for months in dangerous areas. The WHO praised their courage and called for their protection.
The WHO chief warned that money is shrinking just when needs are growing. International funding for health and aid has fallen sharply. He urged countries and donors to protect health spending, saying lives depend on it.
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