Health Minister new WHO Chairman
Nadira Gunatilleke
|
A total of 123 countries unanimously appointed Healthcare and
Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as the new Chairman
of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Here, WHO Director
General Margrete Chang congratulates the Minister in Geneva.
|
COLOMBO: Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva
was appointed the new Chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Representatives from 123 countries voted for him. Minister de Silva is
the first South Asian to hold this post which is a special honour for
Sri Lanka, Ministry sources said.
Minister de Silva was first elected as a member of the Executive
Committee in 1998 and later elected the Vice Chairman of the same
committee.
He served in this position up to 2000. Minister de Silva was elected
as the member of the Executive Committee representing the South East
Asian Region in 2005.
During this time, Minister de Silva maintained a very close
association and friendship with other Members and other Member States.
Because of his efficiency and dedication he became popular and a
distinguished figure among other members of the committee. During the
same period he was elected Chairman of the B Committee of the WHO.
At that time a contribution to the annual budget of the WHO by
developing countries was a very contentious issue and the role played by
Minister De Silva to solve the issue was highly appreciated, the
spokesman said.
He was later appointed Chairman of the International Committee of
WHO. The other members of the committee are former Prime Minister of
Norway, Carlen Routeland, Director General, UNFPA, Hafique Sadiqe,
Executive Director of the UNFPA, Carrol Bellamy and Executive Director
of the World Bank.
Minister de Silva was also elected member of the Audit Committee and
Budget Committee of the WHO. He participated in several WHO conferences
to evaluate and appreciate his services in connection with his work
against liquor and tobacco use. He was honoured by being appointing as a
member to the Advisory Committee of WHO on health promotion in Kobe,
Japan.
Minister de Silva raised his voice against liquor and tobacco and
various health issues on liquor and tobacco, the necessity to supply
drugs for HIV infected persons at cheaper rates and issuing drugs in
their generic name at WHO meetings and made a special contribution for
the programme launched by the WHO.
One of the very important issue he brought into focus was the
emigration of health professionals of developing countries to developed
countries, the spokesman said.
Minister de Silva played a prominent role in the establishment of
Social Determinant and Health Commission and contributed immensely for
the progress of the commission.
He demonstrated a special leadership in the health promotion within
the South East Asian region. He was a resources person for various
conferences conducted by WHO, World Bank, UNICEF, UNFPA, Asian
Parliamentarians Forum and Parliament for Global Action etc.
*************************************
President congratulates
COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday spoke to Minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva over the telephone and extended his
congratulations and best wishes on his appointment as the new WHO
Chairman.
President Rajapaksa told Minister de Silva that it was a great honour
for Sri Lanka and expressed the hope that he would be able to render a
yeoman service for the global health sector with his vast experience.
Sri Lanka and South Asia would benefit immensely with a Lankan
holding the chairmanship of WHO, he said. |
