Poonam wins 2nd term as WHO regional director

NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister J P Nadda has congratulated Poonam Khetrapal Singh on her nomination for a second five-year term as the South East Asia regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO), and said the region emerge as the top performer in the organization globally under her leadership. Nadda also thanked all the member-states for supporting India’s candidate, and said, “We are grateful for the unanimous support received from the Member States of the Region, evidenced by the un-contested election.”

“The leadership provided by Singh to the South East Asia Regional Office has seen the region emerge as the top performer in the organization globally in programmatic and financial implementation.”Further, her commitment to the public health agenda in the Member States is reflected in the significant achievements in all the flagship priority programs of the Region,” the Union Minister said.
He said he was happy that Singh has been able to translate her strategic vision into concrete actions during her tenure – whether it is in addressing the persisting and emerging epidemiological and demographic challenges, strengthening emergency risk management for sustainable development, advancing universal health coverage and robust health systems or articulating a strong regional voice in the global health agenda.
“We are enthused by her statement that she intends to ‘consolidate, accelerate and innovate’ to further strengthen our progress in the priority areas and translating vision into action,” Nadda said. Singh’s candidature was unopposed, as the 11 member countries of WHO South-East Asia Region met at the ongoing Regional Committee session to elect the next Regional Director, the global health body said in a statement.

“With her contributions to regional as well as global initiatives and outstanding work in placing health central to the agenda of sustainable development in the region, she will continue leading the region to greater heights and further strengthen cooperation amongst South East Asia Region Member States,” Nadda said.
The WHO Executive Board, which next meets in Geneva in January 2019, is expected to confirm Singh’s nomination and appoint her as the Regional Director. Singh will commence her next five-year term on February 1, 2019. “While we take pride in her belonging to India, we are sure that she will continue to work in the best ethos of Indian tradition and democracy, bearing allegiance to the oath that she once took, of doing right to all manner of people without fear or favor, affection or ill-will,” said Nadda. PTI