Embassy of Pakistan
Press Section
Paris
Press release
WHO IS THE WORLD’S LEAD HEALTH AGENCY. DR. SANIA NISHTAR
Paris, 10 February, 2017. “World Health Organization (WHO) is the world’s only universal membership multilateral agency. It’s role has never been more important than it is now as it has the potential to address some of the challenges which threaten to wipe out the development gains of the last century; challenges such as emerging and re-emerging infections, antibiotic resistance and non-communicable diseases. The agency, needs to reclaims its primacy, earn the world’s trust as its lead health agency; and should have the ability to coordinate and lead partnerships to achieve universal attainment of the highest possible level of health and well-being for the people of the world”
This was stated by Dr. Sania Nishtar, a Pakistani physician and Pakistan’s former Federal Minister of the Government of Pakistan and a nominee for the slot of Director General, WHO, while making her opening remarks while speaking at an event titled “Meeting with the Candidates for WHO Director General”, organized by Science Po of France in Paris, today.
Dr. Jean-Marie Le Guen, Minister of State for Development and Francophone of France, Faculty and students of Science Po, intellectuals and health scientists attended the function in large number.
Dr. Sania said that if given the chance to lead WHO she would institutionalize meaningful transparency and accountability; will lead impartially and will focus WHO on its core and exclusive mandates.
She said that as a Director-General, she will strive to ensure that WHO is effective, well-managed, transparent, accountable and a cohesive organization, which achieves value for money, is results driven and where robust evidence guides decision-making.
Dr. Sania said that it is imperative to step up WHO’s institutional capacity to detect, lead, manage and coordinate the response to outbreaks and emergencies.
She emphasized that WHO’s operational readiness to respond to emergencies is critical and that it is necessary for it to provide countries with country relevant technical support to achieve the SDGs.
Dr. Sania Nishtar of Pakistan is amongst the three candidates shortlisted for the highest post at the World Health Organization (WHO). The other candidates on the run are Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethopia and Dr David Nabarro of UK.
These candidates will run in an election in May 2017, and will campaign to get as many of WHO’s 194 member states as possible on their side.
————-
