Protecting lives, promoting well-being: Jordan’s progress on NCDs and mental health

25 September 2025 - In Jordan, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for nearly 78% of all deaths. Cardiovascular diseases (29%) and cancer (26%) top the list, while diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases contribute to 5% and 2% of deaths. Almost half of these NCD-related deaths occur before the age of 70.

The situation is being driven by high risk factor levels, including physical inactivity, diets rich in salt, sugar and fat, hypertension and raised blood sugar. Eight in 10 men use tobacco or nicotine products. Smoking among women continues to rise. Overweight and obesity affect 60% of adults, surpassing 80% in older women. Nearly 1 in 3 children aged between 6 and 12 years are overweight or obese.

In recent years, Jordan has been making strides in addressing these alarming trends. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, the Ministry of Health has developed a comprehensive agenda to tackle NCDs and mental health.

Governance and leadership

Several national strategies have been launched, including the National Tobacco Control Strategy 2024-2030, the National Nutrition Strategy 2023-2030 and the National Mental Health and Substance Use Action Plan 2022-2026. Jordan also completed the first investment case on mental health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, strengthening governance and decision-making in this critical area.

Prevention and awareness

Smoking cessation clinics have expanded from 5 in 2019 to 29 nationwide in 2025. Jordan is among the first countries in the Region to implement a national acceleration plan on obesity, integrating nutrition counselling into primary care, reformulating foods, introducing front-of-pack labelling and restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

WHO has supported the Government in creating active spaces by equipping public parks with gym facilities and advocating for the integration of physical activity into school programmes. Campaigns and school-based initiatives are reducing the stigma attached to mental health, encouraging early help-seeking.

Health system integration

NCD services have been incorporated into the Ministry of Health's essential primary health care service package, fostering universal health coverage. Jordan is implementing WHO technical packages like HEARTS to strengthen prevention and control cardiovascular diseases. Programmes such as mhGAP and the Thinking Healthy Programme have expanded access to care by training non-specialist health workers, strengthening referrals and improving access to essential medications.

Clinical interventions

Evidence-based clinical protocols for hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and childhood cancer have been established. Capacity-building to enhance health workers' competency in implementing these protocols is ongoing. NCD monitoring indicators, based on WHO guidance and embedded within established health information systems, generate facility-based data on the early detection, screening and control of NCDs.

Jordan is also part of global initiatives such as the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, the Global Platform for Accessing Childhood Cancer Medication and the Special Initiative for Mental Health.

NCD surveillance

In 2025, Jordan conducted national surveys on NCD risk factors and school health, generating data to guide health policies and programme planning.

As the world gathers for the UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health, Jordan's experience illustrates both the extent of the challenges and the impact of decisive action.

By scaling up prevention, strengthening health systems and investing in NCDs and mental health, Jordan is paving the way to a healthier future.