Under the theme “Together for a Healthier Future: Action, Access, Equity,” the Seventy-Second Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC72) was held in Cairo, Egypt, from 15 to 17 October 2025. The meeting brought together ministers of health, senior policymakers, and experts from the Region’s 22 Member States and territories to address pressing public health challenges and shape the Region’s health agenda for the coming years.

The Regional Committee serves as WHO’s governing body in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, providing a platform for collective decision-making and regional solidarity on key health issues. Participants reviewed progress under WHO’s Regional Strategic Operational Plan (2025–2028) and discussed priorities, including polio eradication, immunization, health systems recovery in fragile contexts, palliative care, biosafety and biosecurity, and the health impacts of climate change.

After extensive deliberations, five resolutions were adopted covering these priority areas. Amid these discussions, EMPHNET participated as a non-Member State Actor, contributing its expertise and regional perspective to technical and policy sessions throughout the meeting.

Reaching the Unreached: Zero-Dose and Under-Immunized Children

A key resolution focused on reaching zero-dose children and advancing measles and rubella elimination, urging Member States to identify and vaccinate children who have not received any routine vaccines, and setting targets for rubella elimination by 2035.

During this discussion, Dr. Nada Ahmad, Director of the Center of Communication and Health Promotion (CCHP), presented EMPHNET’s recommendations on reducing immunization gaps. She highlighted the organization’s longstanding work supporting countries to strengthen demand generation, address vaccine hesitancy, and integrate immunization within maternal and child health services.

“Zero-dose and under-immunized children represent communities left behind by our health systems,” said Dr. Ahmad. “Every child left behind must be visible, tracked, and ultimately reached.”

Read more about EMPHNET’s work in Immunizaiton

Bridging Gaps in Emergency Preparedness and Health System Resilience

Another resolution addressed health systems recovery in fragile and conflict-affected settings, outlining actions to ensure that countries are better prepared for crises and can “build back better.”

Representing EMPHNET, Dr. Mohannad Al Nsour, Executive Director, shared EMPHNET’s experience in strengthening national and subnational capacities through technical assistance, the deployment of Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) graduates, support to rapid response teams, and the enhancement of surveillance and data systems. He also drew attention to EMPHNET’s continued work in Gaza and Sudan, reaffirming its commitment to supporting public health operations in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

“EMPHNET remains firmly committed to working alongside regional and global partners to strengthen preparedness, enhance response capacities, and contribute to the recovery and resilience of health systems across the region,” said Dr. Al Nsour.

Read more about EMPHNET’s work in Public Health Emergency Management and Workforce Development

Strengthening Palliative Care

Member States also endorsed a regional framework to strengthen palliative care in hospitals, primary care, and communities. EMPHNET emphasized that palliative care is a fundamental human right and an essential component of a people-centered health system, supporting the shift toward community-based models that alleviate the burden on overstretched health services while addressing the overall well-being of patients and their families.

Read more about EMPHNET’s Framework for Strengthening Primary Health Care for Achieving Universal Health Coverage

Advancing Biosafety and Biosecurity

The Committee also adopted recommendations to minimize biological risks and enhance safety in health laboratories. EMPHNET underscored the importance of strengthening biosafety and biosecurity frameworks through integrated and sustainable national approaches, reaffirming its continued support to countries in advancing health security and promoting a culture of safety and resilience.

Read more about EMPHNET’s work in Biorisk Management

Addressing Climate Change

The Committee also agreed to finalize and introduce a new operational action plan for climate change and health in the Region, aimed at addressing the growing health challenges posed by climate-related threats. Climate change is one of EMPHNET’s priority areas and it has developed an operational guide on climate change that outlines the health effects of climate change and recommends actions to strengthen climate-health integration in the region.

Read the Operational Guide

A Shared Commitment to Regional Solidarity and Action

EMPHNET’s participation in RC72 reaffirmed its commitment to regional and global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and public health solidarity. Working alongside ministries of health, WHO, and partners, EMPHNET remains dedicated to advancing preparedness, equity, biosecurity, and health system resilience across the region, strengthening public health systems and driving progress toward health security and equity for all.

Learn more about EMPHNET’s regional and global impact in our 15-Year Report