By Oluwaseun Sonde
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has congratulated Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on his re-election as Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO).
UN Chief who disclosed this on his Wednesday social media platform, said he look forward to continuing to work together for the health and well-being of people worldwide.
Meanwhile, WHO Member States on Tuesday re-elected Dr Ghebreyesus to serve a second five-year term as Director-General of the world’s leading public health agency, while he was first elected in 2017.
Dr Tedros' re-election was confirmed during the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, which he was the sole candidate.
Tuesday's vote was the culmination of an election process that began in April 2021 when Member States were invited to submit proposals for candidates for the post of Director-General.
As the WHO Executive Board, meeting in January 2022, nominated Dr Tedros to stand for a second term and his new mandate officially commences on 16 August 2022.
A Director-General can be re-appointed once, in accordance with World Health Assembly rules and procedures.
After his re-election, Dr Tedros said he was humbled by the opportunity provided by Member States to serve a second term as WHO Director-General.
He further said this honour, though, comes with great responsibility and he is committed to working with all countries, colleagues around the world, and the Organisation valued partners, to ensure WHO delivers on its mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
During his first term, Dr Tedros instituted a wide-ranging Transformation of the WHO, aimed at increasing the Organization’s efficiency driving impact at country level to promote healthier lives, protect more people in emergencies and increase equitable access to health.
He also guided WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the health impacts of multiple other humanitarian crises.
Before first being appointed WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia from 2012–2016 and as Minister of Health, Ethiopia from 2005–2012.
He had 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.
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