Chair Blair Comley,
Excellencies, Members of the EB, dear colleagues and friends,
I offer my warm congratulations to Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, and to the government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania, on your appointment by the Executive Board as Regional Director for Africa.
Professor Janabi, you have earned the confidence and trust of the Member States of the region and beyond.
This is a great privilege, and a great responsibility, and will call on your full range of skills as a public health expert, diplomat, and manager.
I had the opportunity to observe those skills in action first hand when I was in Tanzania in January to assist with the Marburg outbreak, and I was very much impressed by the few days of collaboration we had during my trip.
You will now be responsible not just for one country, but 47 Member States of the African Region. That means working to develop and enhance collaborations both within the region and across regions.
You are not alone. You have the dedicated and talented team at the Regional Office - building on the legacy of my sister, former Regional Director Dr Matshidiso Moeti - and all of the region's committed WRs and Country Offices, along with the other Regional Directors.
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.
My sincere gratitude to Chikwe for his exemplary leadership and commitment in this difficult role. I look forward to working with you as you take over the reins of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
Professor Janabi, you are joining at a time of great challenges for the Organization, with both a shifting geo-political landscape and a major reorganization.
We are grateful for your leadership and experience as we work together to navigate the challenges we face, and position our Organization to be stronger, more sustainable and more effective, using the current crisis as an opportunity.
Once again, congratulations. I very much look forward to welcoming you to the GPG, and to working with you for a healthier, safer, and fairer Africa.
I thank you.