The only candidate, Tedros, will continue to head the World Health Organization

The WHO’s first African leader says he is “very grateful” for the help, after secret ballots approved the appointment.

Head of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the second term is guaranteed after a voting procedure made him the sole candidate for the May election.

The first African head of the UN health agency said he was “very grateful for the renewed support” after the WHO executive committee agreed on Tuesday to hold a secret ballot after appointing a single candidate for director-general.

“I’m really lost on words,” said the head of the WHO, who was impressed by the fact that almost all 34 members of the council, representing countries around the world, had left their weight behind.

Only three votes were missing: Tonga, Afghanistan and East Timor were absent, according to a diplomatic source.

WHO Executive Committee # EB150 appointed @DrTedros To decide on the post of Director-General of the WHO # WHA75 May 2022 pic.twitter.com/q7Mo5LgGEf

– World Health Organization (WHO) (@OME) January 25, 2022

Thus, the former Ethiopian Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs is expected to be re-elected when 194 WHO member states vote for the next Director-General in May.

Tedros, one of the most well-known figures in the global fight against COVID-19, acknowledged that his first five-year term was “challenging and difficult” and said it was “a great honor” to be able to move forward. battle.

Extensive support

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the 56-year-old malaria specialist has received much praise for the way the WHO has guided him through the crisis.

“This time we appreciate not only your leadership, but also your humanity and compassion,” said Kim Ganglip, South Korea’s representative, speaking for the WHO’s western Pacific region.

African countries have expressed their satisfaction with the attention paid to the continent and the relentless campaign for poor nations. receive the fair share COVID-19 vaccines.

The main source of opposition to Tedros has come from his home country.

Recently, Tedros, a Tigrinya ethnic group, has received new criticism from the Ethiopian government, a government that is fighting Tigray’s armed fighters. his comments On Twitter and elsewhere, Ethiopia condemned the blockade of international access to Tigray.

He said the WHO had not sent humanitarian aid to the region since July, and called for “unusual” humanitarian access to Tigray, whose people are suffering from severe famine during the war.

The Ethiopian government said in a press release on January 14 that it had sent a letter to the WHO accusing Tedros of “misconduct” following harsh criticism of the war and the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Although Addis Ababa blocked the African Union from unanimously nominating Tedros as a candidate, ahead of Tuesday’s vote, several African countries were among the top 28 European nations to officially present their names.

Significant reform

Tedros’ second term is likely to be a major task for strengthening the WHO, as COVID-19 has revealed its weaknesses.

“The pandemic has highlighted the challenges we face; that the world was not ready, ”he said in a two-hour session before Tuesday’s vote.

Many countries are calling for significant reforms, but their extent and form are yet to be determined, and some nations are wary that a stronger WHO could violate their sovereignty.

Tedros also calls for a comprehensive funding reform to address the lack of warning funds Many of the crises facing the WHO all over the world.