Tedros adhanom ghebreyesus the ethiopian at the heart of the coronavirus fight
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is an Ethiopian physician and public health expert who has played a crucial role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the current Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), a position he has held since 2017.
Early Life and Education: Tedros was born in 1962 in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. He studied medicine at the University of Asmara and later earned a Master's degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of Nottingham in the UK. He also holds a Master's degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career: Tedros began his career in public health in Ethiopia, where he worked as a researcher and later became the Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012. During his tenure, he implemented several health reforms, including the introduction of a community-based health insurance scheme and the expansion of healthcare services to rural areas.
In 2012, Tedros was elected as the Regional Director for the World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean Region, a position he held until 2017. During his tenure, he played a key role in responding to several public health crises, including the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Saudi Arabia.
WHO Director-General: In 2017, Tedros was elected as the first African Director-General of the World Health Organization, succeeding Margaret Chan. He has been instrumental in leading the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO in January 2020.
Under Tedros' leadership, the WHO has worked closely with governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to coordinate the global response to the pandemic. He has also been a vocal advocate for increased funding and support for low- and middle-income countries, which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Achievements: Tedros has achieved several notable milestones during his tenure as WHO Director-General, including:
- Leading the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has involved coordinating the development and distribution of vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatments.
- Advocating for increased funding and support for low- and middle-income countries, which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
- Strengthening the WHO's emergency preparedness and response capabilities, including the establishment of a new incident management system.
- Promoting global health security, including the development of a new global health security framework.
Awards and Recognition: Tedros has received several awards and recognition for his work, including:
- The Order of the Golden Ark, a Dutch award for his contributions to global health.
- The Order of the Star of Ethiopia, a national award for his contributions to Ethiopian public health.
- The World Health Organization's highest honor, the World Health Medal.
Personal Life: Tedros is married and has three children. He is a fluent speaker of Amharic, Tigrinya, and English, and is also conversant in French and Arabic.