EngenderHealth Welcomes Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus as new Director-General, World Health Organization
May 25, 2017—New York. EngenderHealth welcomes the news this week that Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been named the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Tedros has been an exceptional leader in the health sector and a strong advocate for the rights of women and girls, especially among the most vulnerable populations.
Dr. Tedros previously served as Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia from 2012-2016, and as Health Minister from 2005-2012. During that time, he worked extensively to position sexual and reproductive health as national public health priority. Through his policy and advocacy efforts, he made a compelling case for investment in safe motherhood and family planning programs, and supported the expansion of access to safe abortion.
During his tenure, Dr. Tedros’s drive to empower communities helped create an enabling environment for organizations like EngenderHealth to extend technical and capacity development support to the public sector.
“I wish Dr. Tedros the very best as he takes on this laudable new challenge. As the Minister of Health of Ethiopia, he ensured that women and girls are able to access the full range of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights services. We anticipate that he will apply the same rights-based approach in his new global leadership role,” said Ulla Müller, President and CEO, EngenderHealth.
“This promises to be the tipping point that could lead to transformative changes in the lives of women and girls worldwide and move us steadily towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. At EngenderHealth we stand committed to work with Dr. Tedros and the WHO to demonstrate impact and realize our common objectives so that women and girls can reach their full potential,” she added.
EngenderHealth is a leading global women’s health organization committed to working toward a world where sexual and reproductive rights are respected as human rights and women and girls have the freedom to reach their full potential. In nearly 20 countries around the world, EngenderHealth creates lasting change by training health care professionals and partnering with governments and communities to make high-quality family planning and sexual and reproductive health services available today and for all generations to come. Visit www.engenderhealth.org for more information.
For more information, contact:
Priyanka Ghosh
Manager, Communications & Marketing
PGhosh@engenderhealth.org
Tel: 212-561-8521
Fax: 212-561-8067