World Health Assembly: Ethiopia's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus elected as new WHO Director-General

New Delhi: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who served as as Minister of Health, Ethiopia, from 2005-2012, was elected as new Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the member states.

Dr Adhanom also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia from 2012-2016.

He has also chaired the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board, and co-chaired the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Adhanom will begin his five-year term on July 1.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia's prime minister, Hailemaraim Desalegn, said the election of Adhanom to head the WHO is a big achievement for Africa and proves Ethiopia's growing role on the world stage.

This year's assembly, which lasts until May 31, will also determine policies on a range of health issues, including medicines and health products, noncommunicable diseases, health emergencies, as well as maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health.

Dr Adhanom succeeds China's Dr Margaret Chan, who has been WHO’s Director-General since 1 January 2007.

(With IANS inputs)