The Substance use atlas 2021 reports on progress made in the implementation of the regional framework for action to strengthen the public health response to substance use which was endorsed in 2019 at the 66th session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Following endorsement of the regional framework the Regional Committee mandated WHO to monitor and report biennially on its implementation. The atlas maps the resources and capacities of the countries of the Region to respond to the problems of substance use. It also highlights challenges and gaps and identifies areas where the public health response to substance use problems needs to be strengthened. The atlas provides aggregated regional information and individual country profiles with detailed information on available resources and capacities at the country level.

Persons with disabilities have been among those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have they been confronted with higher rates of severe illness and death from COVID-19, but the pandemic has also deepened the inequality, discrimination, social exclusion and low priority – if not invisibility – that they routinely face. A World Health Organization (WHO) survey in 2020 found rehabilitation services were some of the most disrupted services reported by countries. This report is based on a rapid assessment, a unique endeavour to describe the status of disability inclusion in the COVID-19 health responses of countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.