Newly elected Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom waves during the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, May 23, 2017. Tedros Adhanom, 52-year-old former health minister and foreign minister of Ethiopia, was elected on Tuesday as new Director-General of the World Health Organization, UN's health agency. (Xinhua/Alain Grosclaude)
ADDIS ABABA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has congratulated Tedros Adhanom, the former Ethiopian Minister of Health, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on his historic win as the first World Health Organization (WHO) Director General from Africa.
Adhanom emerged victorious in a tough election against two strong candidates; Sania Nishtar from Pakistan and David Nabarro from Britain, noted a statement from the pan-African bloc later Tuesday.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, has warmly congratulated Adhanom on his election as the first ever Director-General of the WHO from the African region.
"The world has chosen a consummate global health statesman with a strong track record of embedding global public health and health security as a vital cornerstone of human development," said the Chairperson of the AU Commission.
Adhanom was recently at the helm of drafting the AU Agenda 2063, which represents the strategic framework guiding Africa's development priorities for the next 50 years, while serving as Chair of the Executive Council of the AU, said the statement.
Mahamat wishes Adhanom a successful tenure at the helm of WHO robustly working towards a better, healthier future for all people around the globe.
The AU Commission affirms its support of Adhanom's priorities which include WHO reform; universal health coverage; health security; women, child and adolescent health; and the health impacts of climate and environmental change, said the statement.
The AU Commission Chairperson has also thanked African Ministers of health for their united and steadfast support for Adhanom during the campaign.
Meanwhile, Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has warmly congratulated the newly elected Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom, who happens to be the first African to officiate at the prestigious position.
"It gives me a great pleasure to congratulate you, on behalf of IGAD and on my own, upon your historic election as the head of the WHO. Your victory is a symbol of an ever African rising unity in the international arena," said Maalim in his congratulatory message.
Adhanom has proven himself an accomplished statesman who will be in the best position to fulfill his mandate as the new head of WHO, said a statement from the East African regional bloc.
Maalim wishes Adhanom a most successful tenure in his new endeavor, and reassures him of IGAD support.
