Advancing health security in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Self-assessment phase of the second round of the Joint External Evaluation in Iraq. Photo credit: WHO/WHO Iraq
15 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt – In the diverse WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, positive results have been yielded by concerted efforts to enhance health security through the monitoring and building of the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities.
Collaborative initiatives supported by WHO have led to notable advances in the Region’s ability to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to public health threats. These shared efforts have also increased capacities in various technical areas critical to health security. Work that has helped to lay a solid foundation for more resilient health systems across the Region includes the adoption of the One Health approach, support for cross-border collaboration and coordination, and the strengthening of risk communication and community engagement.
The Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has used the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework tools to support all 22 countries and territories of the Region to complete the State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting on an annual basis. Twenty countries and territories of the Region have completed the Joint External Evaluation (first round), with 4 countries on track to complete the second round by the end of 2023. In addition, 19 countries