Moeti starts journey on new WHO role

“I will give first priority to the Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa as I take over office. I will work with WHO colleagues and partners to help the affected countries halt the spread of the disease and reach zero cases, while starting to withstand similar shocks in future,” she said. The Botswana medic is the first woman to be appointed to the prestigious position and will start work next month.

She aims to build a responsive, effective and result-driven regional secretariat to advance efforts to realise universal health coverage, accelerate progress toward global development goals, while tackling emerging threats. Moeti says strong partnerships will underpin every aspect of the Regional Office’s work during her tenure.