For the first time, Vietnam has a candidate running for the position of Director of the WHO Regional Office.

Vietnam's representative - Associate Professor, Doctor, Physician (PGS.TS.BS) Tran Thi Giang Huong - is running for the position of Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Associate Professor, Doctor, Physician Tran Thi Giang Huong. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the list of 5 candidates for the position of Director of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office for the 2024-2029 term, including Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong from Vietnam.

Previously, the Vietnamese Government decided to nominate Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong for the above position and Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan officially sent a nomination letter to the WHO Director General. This is the first time Vietnam has had a candidate for this important position of WHO.

WHO is the largest health professional organization of the United Nations with 194 member countries, established in 1948 with the goal of ensuring health for people around the world.

As one of the six regions of WHO, the Western Pacific Region comprises 37 countries and territories with a population of over 1.9 billion people. The Western Pacific Regional Office is based in Manila, Philippines.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong is an expert in public health and global health with more than 32 years of experience, holding many important positions in the health sector.

She has held positions such as Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Health, Head of ASEAN SOM on Health Development (SOMHD), Head of the Health Working Group of the APEC forum, and Alternate Member of the WHO Executive Council for the 2016-2019 term.

Since July 2019, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong has been the Director of Disease Control Programs of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong has made important and effective contributions to the cause of caring for and protecting people's health, contributing to promoting the international integration of the health sector, enhancing the role and position of the Vietnamese health sector in the region and in the world.

As Director of Disease Control Programmes of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong has made important contributions to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region; prevention and control of infectious and non-communicable diseases; improvement of mental health; elimination of malaria in the Mekong Sub-region and neglected tropical diseases; implementation of the expanded immunization program and many other public health programs.

According to WHO regulations, candidates will undergo consultations with member states and then a secret ballot within the framework of the 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, taking place from October 16 to 20, 2023 in Manila, Philippines.

Laodong.vn