Current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and formerly (from 2005 to 2012) Minister of Health of this country, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has just been elected Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Tedros” as he wishes to be called will therefore succeed, from July 1, to the post of Dr Margaret Chan, who had held this same function since 2007.
It is the first health representative in Africa to take up this post of director general.
In his address to Member States, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of the need for universal access to health care, better response to health emergencies as well as threats to global health, such as climate change, the migrant crisis and terrorism.
As Minister of Health in Ethiopia, the new Director General of WHO led the comprehensive reform of his country’s health system by developing health infrastructure with the creation of 3,500 health centers and 16,000 health posts. And as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he led the negotiations of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries pledged to provide the necessary funding to achieve the sustainable development goals.
Finally, he created the Global Malaria Action Plan, which extended the coverage of this initiative beyond Africa to also benefit Asia and Latin America.
70th World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as WHO Director-General https://t.co/kJIhJXuN49
– WHO (@WHO) May 23, 2017
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