The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) have signed a partnership agreement to accelerate the elimination of preventable communicable diseases across the region.

The collaboration will combine WHO’s technical expertise with GLIDE’s research, innovation, and catalytic financing to strengthen integrated disease surveillance, expand the use of artificial intelligence, and support country-led disease elimination efforts. The partnership will also support WHO’s multi-disease elimination initiative, initially focusing on 14 high-burden communicable diseases through integrated health system approaches.

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“This partnership represents an important step in advancing our mission to accelerate the elimination of preventable infectious diseases,” said H.E. Dr. Farida Al Hosani, CEO of GLIDE.

“By combining our research-driven approach, innovation, and implementation expertise with WHO’s regional leadership, we are focusing on integrated surveillance and the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen health system resilience and support long-term disease elimination.”

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WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, said, “This agreement with GLIDE helps us accelerate the implementation of our multi-disease elimination framework while leveraging cutting-edge technology and enhanced diagnostics. Together, we are empowering countries to identify and eliminate infectious threats that impact community well-being and economic growth.”

The agreement also reinforces efforts to strengthen poliovirus surveillance, helping countries maintain the technical capacity needed to achieve and sustain polio-free status while contributing to stronger public health systems and regional health security.