Madam Chair, Honourable Minister Louise Mapleh Kpoto, Vice Chair, Honourable Minister Abdellahi Sidi Mohamed Weddih,
Excellencies, honourable ministers, heads of delegations, dear colleagues and friends,
I offer my warm congratulations to Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi on your nomination as Regional Director for Africa, and also to the United Republic of Tanzania.
I also thank Dr Lamine, Professor Mijiyawa and Dr Yao on your campaigns for this challenging but extremely important position.
Each candidate brought unique skills, experiences and perspectives to the table, demonstrating the talent and commitment we have within our continent.
Professor Janabi, you have earned the confidence and trust of the Member States of the Region. This is a great privilege, and a very great responsibility.
This job will demand every bit of the technical, managerial and diplomatic skills you have. I observed those qualities when I was in Tanzania in January to assist with the Marburg outbreak, and I had the opportunity to work with you, Professor Janabi. I was very much impressed during that trip.
You are not alone. You are supported by a very dedicated and talented team at the Regional Office, as you build on the distinguished legacy of my sister, former Regional Director Dr Matshidiso Moeti.
And I assure you of my support and that of my colleagues in Geneva, including your immediate predecessor who served as Acting RD, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, and who will be taking the reins of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
Colleagues, it goes without saying that the incoming Regional Director will need your full support, no matter how difficult things get. And it is almost a certainty that they will be difficult. But as the new RD-elect says, this is everybody’s business, and I fully agree.
Both expected and unexpected challenges are part and parcel of global health. It's what we signed up for. The true difficulty is when multiple challenges all land at the same time.
That's when the leadership of your incoming Regional Director will be needed the most, to prepare for, prevent, and respond to the challenges ahead.
These include conflict, the climate crisis, inequality, infectious disease outbreaks, the rising burden of NCDs, antimicrobial resistance, and so much more.
And of course, Professor Janabi, you are joining at an unprecedented time for the Organization. We are grateful for your experience and expertise as we work together to navigate the challenges we face, and position our Organization to be stronger, sharper and more effective in the future. And we have already started, using the current crisis as an opportunity to shape up the Organization and make it better.
Professor Janabi, you have the faith and confidence of our Member States, and of the entire Organization.
I look forward to working with you, and I look forward to your appointment by the Executive Board at its meeting following the World Health Assembly.
Once again, congratulations. I very much look forward to working with you for a healthier, safer, fairer Africa.
I thank you.