WHO elects first African Director General
pharmafile | May 26, 2017 | Appointment | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing |Â Â WHO, appointmentÂ
Ethiopian-born Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been announced as the Next Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) after securing the most votes from the 186 member states. He will be the first African to taken on the role.
Dr Tedros formally served as WHO’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia from 2012-2016. He also held the position of Minister of Health, Ethiopia from 2005-2012, during which he led an effort to reform the country’s health infrastructure, creating 3,500 health centres, 16,000 health posts, and increasing the workforce by 38,000. He has also chaired the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board, and acted as co-chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
He succeeds Margaret Chan, who has served as Director General for ten years, beginning in June 2007. The performance of the organisation under Chan drew criticism recently for its ‘slow’ response to the Ebola epidemic which claimed the lives of 11,000 in West Africa.
His primary remit covers five areas: advancing universal health coverage, prioritising the healthcare of women, children and adolescents, addressing the international threat of climate change on health, ensure rapid and effective response to disease outbreaks, and improving the agency’s transparency and accountability.
Some have voiced their opposition to the move, with groups in Ethiopia have claiming that Dr Tedros’ appointment is nothing more than an attempt to raise the nation’s diplomatic profile, while some have accused the new Director General of covering up three cholera epidemics in the country. These claims have been denied by Tedros’ supports.
Speaking on his appointment to the role, Dr Tedros remarked that he envisioned “a world in which everyone can lead health and productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live…All roads should lead to universal health coverage. I will not rest until we have met this.”
Related Content
Historic UN declaration supporting mental health – treatment to be given similar priority to chronic diseases
The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted the political declaration to combat mental …
David Wheadon appointed to board of directors at Seaport Therapeutics
This week, Seaport Therapeutics have appointed David Wheadon MD to their board of directors.
WHO recommends new vaccine for prevention of malaria in children
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it has recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, …
