New WHO head won’t accept that ‘people should die because they are poor’

Hai Luong
By Hai Luong
May 23, 2017World News
share
New WHO head won’t accept that ‘people should die because they are poor’

When he was 7, Tedros Ghebreyesus watched his brother die.

In Ethiopia, there are dozens of diseases that can cut short a child’s life. One of them claimed his brother. Tedros learned in that moment how precious, and how fragile life can be.

Now Tedros is director-general of the World Health Organization.

He can guide considerable resources to issues he said matter, and to areas he said need assistance.

He told his personal story in a speech before the final round of voting.

“Coming from this background, knowing survival to adulthood cannot be taken for granted, and refusing to accept that people should die because they are poor,” he said, “I have dedicated my life to improving health, to reducing inequalities, to helping people everywhere live more productive lives,” he said.

He will serve a five-year term guiding this global health group. if he wants to serve multiple terms he will need to avoid situations like the 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak.

The WHO didn’t act for eight months while  the outbreak spread across several countries. That inaction might have ended the 10-year tenure of former Director-General Margaret Chan.

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments