Ethiopia's Tedros given top job in World Health Organization

By Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles

Ethiopia's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus won the race to be the next head of the World Health Organization (WHO) last week on Tuesday, becoming the first African to lead the Geneva-based United Nations agency.

The former health minister and foreign minister, who vowed to make universal health care his priority, won over half the votes from 189 member states in the first round and prevailed in a third-round ballot against Britain's David Nabarro.

"It's a victory day for Ethiopia and for Africa," Ethiopia's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Negash Kebret Botora said.

Tedros, as he is widely known, told health ministers at the WHO's annual assembly after his election: "All roads lead to universal coverage. This will be my central priority.

"At present, only about a half of the world's people have access to health care without impoverishment. This needs to improve dramatically," he added.

Appointment welcomed

Six candidates sought to take the helm at the WHO, which is tasked with combating disease outbreaks and chronic illnesses.

The WHO said Tedros had led a "comprehensive reform effort" of Ethiopia's health system, creating health centres and jobs.

UNAIDS, the vaccine alliance GAVI, US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers welcomed his appointment.

"Tedros has the power to herald a new era in how the world prepares for and responds to epidemics, including building partnerships, strengthening public health systems, and developing new vaccines and therapies that are available to all who need them," Jeremy Farrar, director of the medical charity Wellcome Trust, said in a statement.

Tedros will begin his five-year term after Margaret Chan, a former Hong Kong health director, steps down on 30 June.

Chan leaves a mixed legacy after her 10 years on the job, especially because of WHO's slow response to West Africa's Ebola epidemic in 2013-2016, which killed 11,300 people.