As the race for the position of a new director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) heightens, some stakeholders have canvassed support for Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the African candidate.
According to them, Ghebreyesus, an Ethopian and one of the three contenders for the position, will be most suitable for the position.
A release entitled “Breaking WHO’s Glass Ceiling” by Peter Singer and Jill Sheffield, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Project Syndicate 2017, said however that all the other nominees had their positive points.
Singer is Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges, Canada, while Sheffield is an independent consultant and long-time advocate for women’s health and rights.
On Jan. 25, the WHO executive board shortlisted three candidates, Ghebreyesus, David Nabarro and Sania Nishtar for the top job.
One of the nominees would be elected in May at the World Health Assembly, to succeed Dr Margaret Chan, the current Diector-General.
“In its almost 70-year history, WHO has never had a Director-General from Africa; it is time to break the WHO’s African-leadership glass ceiling.
“Sustainable development is truly achievable only when leaders of global institutions are from the communities most affected by those institutions’ work.
“If elected, Dr Tedros would be the first-ever WHO D-G from Africa. Ghebreyesus’ candidacy presents the WHO with a historic opportunity. However, this fact alone is not a reason to pick a candidate.
“But in Ghebreyesus’ case, his direct experience working in developing countries makes him uniquely qualified to tackle our toughest global health problems, which tend to hit developing countries the hardest.’’
The release quoted the advocates as saying that they believed that Ghebreyesus is the most qualified person for the job.
“Our endorsement is based on three considerations that are important in any hiring process and especially for a position such as this.
“They include the candidate’s past achievements, leadership style and the diversity that he or she brings to the table.
“Ghebreyesus is a public health expert; he has a proven track record of success as Ethiopia’s health minister from 2005 to 2012. He championed the interests of all of the country’s citizens and strengthened primary care services.
“He created 3,500 health centers and 16,000 health posts, and dramatically expanded the health-care workforce by building more medical schools and deploying more 38,000 community-based health extension workers.
“Ghebreyesus’s efforts now serve as a model that other countries seek to emulate as they try to achieve universal health coverage for their citizens.
“He also played crucial role in more than doubling the percentage of Ethiopian women with access to contraception, thereby reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent,’’ the advocates said.
The statement also identified Ghebreyesus as a longtime champion and advocate of gender equality and the rights of women and girls.
It said that he also had a knack for diplomacy, which is now needed to bring WHO member states together for cooperative action on collective health challenges.
The advocates said that Ghebreyesus had good leadership style, suited for this role as well as extensive leadership experience within global health institutions.
“As Board Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria between 2009 and 2011 and as Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership between 2007 and 2009, Ghebreyesus dramatically improved both organisations’ operations.
“He helped them raise record-breaking financial commitments from donors: $11.7 billion for the Global Fund and $3 billion for Roll Back Malaria,’’ the statement said.
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