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May 26, 20173 Things You Should Know about Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO DG-Elect
Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a press conference launching his candidacy to the post of Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), on the sidelines of the WHO's annual assembly, on May 24, 2016, in Geneva. Delegates from 194 member-states gather for the second day of the WHO's annual assembly, with the UN agency's chief Margaret Chan warning in an opening address that the world was not prepared to cope with a rising threat from infectious diseases. / AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
On Tuesday May 23rd Ethiopia’s Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected as the new director-general of the World Health Education (WHO). Dr Tedros will be succeeding Dr. Margaret Chan, who has been overseeing the agency since 2006. His five-year term will officially begin on July 1, 2017. Here are 3 things to note about Dr Tedros:
- He’s the first African Director-General of the WHO: Before his election the WHO Director-Generals in the past have included; Hong Kong’s Margaret Chan since 2006, Sweden’s Anders Nordström 2006 (acting), South Korea’s Lee Jong-wook(2003–2006), Norway’s Gro Harlem Brundtland (1998–2003), Japan’s Hiroshi Nakajima (1988–1998)Denmark’s Halfdan T. Mahler (1973–1988), Brazil’s Marcolino Gomes Candau (1953–1973), Canada’s Brock Chisholm (1948–1953).
- Dr Tedros’ win makes him the 8th World Health Organization Director-General and he fought off competition from two other candidates; Britain’s Dr. David Nabarro, a health official who has lead the United Nations response to a variety of health problems, including the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and Dr. Sania Nishtar, the first female cardiologist in Pakistan.
- He has previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Health in Ethiopia. Some other roles he has played include, Chair, Global Fund to Fights AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Board; Chair, Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board; and Co-Chair, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Board.
For more about Dr Tedros visit his personal website
