29 May, 2017
"The new head of the World Health Organization doesn't believe the Trump administration's calls to slash funding for worldwide aid and United Nations agencies like his is a "closed issue.' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an Ethiopian ex-health minister, said he was looking forward to further talks with the U.S., WHO's biggest donor".
After three rounds of a secret ballot, emerged as the victor with 133 votes against 50 votes for the British candidate, Dr. David Nabarro.
Tedros beat Britain's David Nabarro and Pakistan's Sania Nishtar after three successive rounds of voting. On a personal note, Tedros has worn different hats including that of Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Minister (2012-2016) and Health Minister (2005-2012). He has also served as chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; as chair of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board, and as co-chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a WHO statement said.
Dr. Ghebreyesus outlined his vast experience as Ethiopia's minister for Health, saying he oversaw the construction of more than 16,000 health posts and 3,000 health centers as well as the deployment of more than 40,000 health extension officers across the country.
As chair of the Global Fund and of RBM, Ghebreyesus secured record funding for the two organizations and created the Global Malaria Action Plan, which expanded RBM's reach beyond Africa to Asia and Latin America.
"All roads should lead to universal health coverage", he underscored, and this mantra should be the WHO's "centre of gravity".
"I envision a world in which everyone can lead healthy and productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live". The Secretary shared his vision for the WHO as a place that can attract the most talented individuals from around the world with state-of-the-art expertise to advance the WHO's mission of enhancing the public health - including defeating diseases like polio - as well as addressing potential and actual health emergencies.
Ghebrysus takes over at the end of June from Dr Margaret Chan, the Hong Kong-Canadian national who has been at the helm of World Health Organization since January 2007.
Nominated by the Ethiopian government, Tedros, as he is reportedly known as, will take charge in July, for a five-year term.
