By Bunmi Yekini
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has announced the appointment of Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as Acting Regional Director. His leadership and extensive expertise are expected to drive the region’s health agenda forward in the coming months, particularly in the fight against communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Dr Ihekweazu takes over from Dr Matshidiso Moeti, who served as Regional Director for the past decade. Under her leadership, the region witnessed significant strides in public health, including the Transformation Agenda, the launch of the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), and the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme, which empowers young African women scientists in disease elimination efforts.
Reflecting on her tenure, Dr Benido Impouma, Director of the WHO Africa Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (UCN) Cluster, praised Dr Moeti’s legacy, stating:
“She has set the scene for the final five years towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her contributions to public health in Africa have been transformative, and we are committed to sustaining the momentum she built.”
Focus on Disease Elimination in Africa
As WHO Africa moves into 2025, the focus will be on accelerating the Ending Disease in Africa strategy, a framework aimed at sustaining progress in disease control, eradication, and elimination. The UCN Cluster will work closely with partners and Member States to ensure that past gains in public health are protected and expanded.
A recent WHO Africa publication, Sustaining Transformative Change in Public Health in Africa to Achieve Health Development Goals, highlights key health advancements in the past decade and underscores the need to maintain transformative efforts in disease prevention and response.Dr Impouma emphasized the importance of innovation and technology in shaping the region’s health future.