Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom has been elected as the new head of the World Health Organisation.
It is the first time an African has been appointed to lead the United Nations health agency. Adhanom beat British candidate David Nabarro in the third round of voting. He will succeed Margaret Chan, has served two consecutive five-year terms. Adhanom is a former health minister of Ethiopia.
He is widely credited for improving access to healthcare in Ethiopia.
“It is time for Africa”
That was Dr. Tedros Andhanom’s campaign slogan as he emphasized that the continent has the right expertise to steer the global health agenda.
And in Ethiopia, citizens have taken to the streets in cars hooting and screaming with joy partly because his victory puts his country and the continent on the global map as the first African to be elected Director General.
The African Union is pleased that its candidate has moved the continent a step forward to global leadership.
Members of diplomatic mission from different African countries in Ethiopia says Dr. Tedros will rightly understand the challenges of diseases and health emergency response needed in the continent today.
But this is a task he will extend globally.
One of his strengths during the campaign was the recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo at a time when the country is facing an Ebola outbreak.
35 global health leaders endorsed him in a letter to the World Health organization as a capable and qualified candidate for the job.
As a health minister, between 2005 to 2012, he is credited for leading health reforms in the country that reduced child mortality by two thirds, reduced HIV infections by 90% and, malaria and tuberculosis deaths by 75% and 64% respectively.
His position as foreign affairs minister until 2016, also added to his experience in diplomacy.
The results of the World Health organization elections for Director general are a continental victory.
Dr, Tedros Andhanom was endorsed by African Union for the top post at the WHO, and the African diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa are thrilled by the outcome.
