Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The Israeli Defense Forces have issued an evacuation order for Beirut’s Jnah area, which includes two major referral hospitals; the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital. At this time, no alternative medical facilities are available to receive approximately 450 patients from the two hospitals (including 40 patients in the ICU), rendering their evacuation operationally unfeasible. Both facilities are operating at full capacity, including treating the injured from the strikes of 8 April. This zone also encompasses the @mophleb complex, and hosts five shelters accommodating more than 5000 people. I urge Israel to reverse this order and ensure the protection of all health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians.

LIVE | My statement at the closing of the Global Forum of the WHO Collaborating Centre x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

በኢትዮጵያ አማራ ክልል፣ ሰሜን ጎጃም ዞን፣ ሰሜን ሜጫ ወረዳ መጋቢት 24/2018 ሶስት የጤና ባለሙያዎች በጥይት ተገድለዋል። ነርስን ጨምሮ ሁለቱ የጤና ባለሙያዎች በሰሜን ሜጫ በሚገኘው አቢዮት ፋና የመጀመሪያ ደረጃ ጤና ጣቢያ ሲሰሩ የነበሩ ሲሆን፣ ሦስተኛው ደግሞ በግል የጤና ተቋም ውስጥ ይሠሩ ነበር። ግድያው የተፈጸመው በአማራ ክልል በኢትዮጵያ መንግስት እና በክልል ኃይሎች መካከል ግጭት እየተስፋፋ ባለበት ወቅት ነው። የጤና ባለሙያዎች በማንኛውም ጊዜ ሊጠበቁ እና ለሚያስፈልጋቸው ሰው ሁሉ ህይወትን የሚያድኑ ስራዎቻቸውን ሊያከናውኑ ይገባል። በተጨማሪም የአለም ጤና ድርጅት በተፈፀመው ግድያ ገልተኛ አካል ምርመራ እንዲያደረግ ይጠይቃል።

Three health workers from the district of North Mecha, in North Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia's Amhara region, were fatally shot on 2 April. Two of the health workers, including a nurse, worked at the Abiote Fana primary health center in North Mecha, while the third worked at a private health facility. The killings occurred amid expanding conflict in Amhara involving Ethiopian government and regional forces. Health workers must always be protected and enabled to perform their life-saving duties for anyone needing care. Health is #NotATarget.

It was a pleasure to welcome representatives from over 800 scientific institutions to the first ever Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres. This global network from 80 countries is implementing over 4000 activities in support of WHO's programmes. In the context of sudden and severe cuts to aid impacting health and humanitarian work around the world, this network represents an incredible resource for global health and plays a critical role in supporting WHO to serve our Member States and the people of the world.

Honoured to hand over the One Health Quadripartite Chair to @DrTedros. Building on strong collaboration with @WHO, @UNEP and @WOAH we will continue advancing the #OneHealth agenda to address interconnected challenges across human, animal, plant and environmental health. #4Betters

I thank President @EmmanuelMacron for convening the High-Level Meeting on the Global Health Architecture and One Health Summit, and his leadership in advancing #HealthForAll and #StandWithScience. We discussed leveraging the power of the WHO Academy in Lyon by strengthening partnerships with the @WHO collaborating centres, and the developments of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex negotiations which are critical to the ratification of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

Pleasure to meet President @duma_boko of #Botswana on the sidelines of the One Health Summit. I thanked him for his leadership on public health. We discussed health system strengthening, including the two reforms he has initiated: national health insurance and access to medicines. @WHO stands ready to support Botswana in strengthening its healthcare system and advancing universal health coverage.

The health of humans, animals and the environment are woven together inextricably. We cannot protect one without protecting all three. This demands a One Health approach. That’s why @WHO, @FAO and @WOAH formed the tripartite in 2010, which became the Quadripartite in 2022 when @UNEP joined. At the One Health summit today, I was pleased to announce that we are extending the term of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) until April 2027. Thank you President @EmmanuelMacron and the Government of France for convening the summit. who.int/news/item/07-0…

LIVE | My statement at the Global Forum of the WHO Collaborating Centre x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

The Gaza Strip is halfway through a 5 day catch-up vaccination campaign targeting children under 3 years old who missed routine vaccines during 2.5 years of conflict. Despite difficult weather conditions, 146 teams are working to deliver life-saving vaccines through fixed health facilities and mobile outreach to those unable to access services. Led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and supported by @WHO, @UNICEF, @UNRWA, donors and partners, this campaign reflects the power of sustained collaboration in safeguarding children from vaccine preventable diseases, even in the most challenging circumstances. At the same time, WHO is supporting efforts to strengthen the health system to enhance the overall sustainability of services, including year-round availability of routine vaccinations, and reinforcing surveillance systems to ensure diseases can be detected and responded to early.

LIVE | One Health Summit and Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

I echo the warning from IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi that continued military activity near Iran's Bushehr power plant poses a real danger. Such actions could lead to a severe radiological accident, with serious and long-term health consequences for people now and for generations to come, while also harming the environment across Iran, the region, and beyond. WHO reiterates its call for all parties to rapidly choose a peaceful path out of this escalating conflict to protect public health and prevent a human and environmental catastrophe.

My heart is heavy with the passing of Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis, my former colleague and dear friend. Farewell to a titan of diplomacy. Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis entered the foreign service in 1962, one year before the founding of the Organisation of African Unity. From her earliest days as a diplomat, she devoted herself to the cause of decolonization. She later served as Ethiopia's Permanent Representative to the African Union, where she continued to shape the continent's destiny with wisdom, grace, and unwavering commitment. Throughout her remarkable career, she broke barriers and opened doors for so many who followed. She was a true pioneer, not only in her achievements but in the quiet dignity and strength with which she carried herself. Her legacy of service is unmatched, and her absence leaves a void that cannot be filled. Rest in peace, dear Konjit. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

Thank you, @sudarsansand

Science shows what is possible. From breakthrough medicines and clean air to life-saving vaccines and new discoveries — science works for all of us, every day. This #WorldHealthDay, let's come together and #StandWithScience. 💙

.@WHO is devastated to confirm that a person contracted to provide services to the Organization in Gaza was killed today during a security incident.    Two WHO staff members were present but were not injured.   We extend our condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased.    The incident is under investigation by the relevant authorities.   Following the incident, WHO suspended today's medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt. Medical evacuations will remain suspended until further notice.   We are deeply grateful to our colleagues who work day and night despite the risks to ensure that the people of Gaza can access the health care they need.   We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Peace is the best medicine.

Science is a powerful tool, if we choose it, and use it. This World Health Day, WHO has a simple message: Together for Health. #StandWithScience. #WHD2026

Today, a strike just 100 meters from Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon's largest public medical facility, caused major damage to a nearby residential area. It killed 4 people and injured 39. The hospital sustained no damage. Between 28 and 31 March, @WHO verified 11 attacks affecting Lebanese health care facilities. This is an average of 2 attacks every day, with 5 occurring on 28 March alone, impacting facilities in Kfar Tibnit, Ghandouriyeh, Zawtar Al Gharbiyeh, Kfar Dajal, and Jazzine and resulting in 9 deaths and 5 injuries. On 29 March, attacks impacting health facilities in Bint Jbeil and Chakra caused 1 death with no injuries. On 30 March, a strike impacting the Rihab hospital in Beirut’s southern suburbs injured 4 people, while the next day, 2 facilities in Kafra and Bint Jbeil were damaged, causing 1 death and 3 injuries. Since 28 February, WHO has verified 92 attacks on health facilities, medical vehicles, personnel, and warehouses, that resulted in 53 deaths and injured 137 people. These acts cannot become the new norm. The world must reaffirm, unequivocally, that the protection of health care is not optional, but a universal obligation and a measure of our collective humanity. As Israel expands its military operations, I call on all parties to uphold their responsibility under international humanitarian law and ensure health facilities, health workers and patients are proactively protected. Healthcare is #NotATarget.

Rewire, Don't Just Retire

Don’t retire from something, retire into something. Anon.