From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Members of the World Health Assembly have elected a Tanzanian, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
Prof. Janabi was elected during a special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, held on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland.
His election is expected to be ratified the WHO Executive Board, to be held on 28-29 May, and he will take office thereafter.
Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a statement, congratulated Prof.Janabi on his election as Regional Director, otherwise known as WHO AFRO.
He said: “You have earned the confidence and trust of the Member States of the region. This is a great privilege and a very great responsibility. I assure you of my support and that of my colleagues in Geneva.”
Prof. Janabi will take over from Nigeria’s Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who was the acting regional director until a few days ago when he was appointed Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme.
Prof. Janabi, for years, has been Physician to former President of United Republic of Tanzania; Faculty Member of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS); Faculty Member of Medical University of South Carolina, USA, among several others.