Madam Chair, Honourable Minister Louise Mapleh Kpoto,
Excellencies, honourable ministers, dear colleagues and friends,
Thank you all for joining us today.
My sincere thanks to the Member States of the WHO African Region for holding this special session of the Regional Committee to elect a new Regional Director, in the wake of the tragic passing of Dr Faustine Ndugulile.
Once again, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Dr Ndugulile’s family and friends, and to the people and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is a great loss.
I am grateful to Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu for stepping in during this critical period. Your steadfast leadership was hugely appreciated.
I thank the candidates, Professor Janabi, Dr Lamine, Professor Mijiyawa and Dr Yao for putting yourselves forward for this very demanding but very important position.
Excellencies, it is now your task to nominate a new Regional Director.
The options are before you, and I look forward to your discussion and decision, and to working with whomever you elect to lead the region forward.
The AFRO Regional Director faces one of the most difficult but also one of the most important jobs in global health.
It is a post that demands clear-eyed leadership, creativity, technical expertise, wisdom, and a steady hand at the wheel.
My thanks once again to our Chair, and to all Member States for your continuing commitment to our shared mission to promote, provide and protect the health of the people of Africa.
Thank you, and Chair, back to you.