China
China’s Margaret Chan elected WHO chief
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Source: CCTV.com | 11-10-2006 08:25
The World Health Organization has a new head. It officially elected Margaret Chan to fill the post vacated by the death in May of Dr. Lee Jong-wook. Thursday's appointment came just a day after her nomination by the governing Executive Board. Chan has announced her two top priorities: improving the health of Africans and women.
Margaret Chan is the first Chinese national to head a UN specialized body.
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| Newly elected UN World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan of China gives a speech in Geneva of Switzerland, Nov. 9, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) |
" I would work 'tirelessly' for world health", said Margaret Chan on Wednesday Full Story >>
At a press conference after her official appointment, Chan said the UN agency's future work should focus on the health of women and Africans.
Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director general said, “The people of Africa carry an enormous and disproportionate burden of ill health and premature death. The health of the people of Africa must therefore be the key indicator of the performance of WHO.”
Chan added that women's overall health, not just maternal health, should also be a focus for the agency.
Chan said, “Women do more than have babies. Unfortunately their activities in communities and households, coupled with their low status, make them especially vulnerable to health problems.”
She said empowering women and reducing their health problems would result in a dramatic increase in health-promoting behaviors, right where it counts most.
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| Newly elected UN World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan (L) and China's Minister of Health Gao Qiang (R)(Xinhua Photo) Full Story >> |
The new Director General also noted other world health challenges, including infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness.
Margaret Chan gained international renown leading Hong Kong's public health department when it faced the world's first known human outbreak of the H-5-N-1 bird flu virus in 1997.
The former Hong Kong health chief overcame contenders from Mexico, Japan, Spain and Kuwait for the post. Her five and a half-year term will last until June 2012.
HK hails WHO nomination
Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR Donald Tsang congratulated Chan on her nomination. He said Chan is the first Chinese person to head a UN institution. And that she is the 'pride and glory of Hong Kong and China'. Donald Tsang said Chan's vast experience in public health administration, especially gained during the SARS outbreak 3 years ago, will help her do a good job in the new position.
Margaret Chan profile
Age: 59
Graduated from University of Western Ontario, Canada
1978 Member, HK Health Dept.
1994 Director, HK Health Dept.
2003 Director, Protection of Human Environment Dept,WHO
2005 Director, Communicable Diseases Surveillance & Response, WHO Representative,Director-General for Pandemic Influenza, WHO
Editor:Sun Luying
