A new era for WHO with 5 top priorities

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is an Ethiopian politician, academic, and public health authority who is the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), taking office for a five-year term on 1 July 2017 following his election by the World Health Assembly on 23 May 2017.

He envisions a world in which everyone can live healthy, productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live. He believes the global commitment to sustainable development — enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals — offers a unique opportunity to address the social, economic and political determinants of health and improve the health and wellbeing of people everywhere. WHO has set 5 top priorities to address in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

Five top priorities:

1. Ensure universal health coverage for all people without impoverishment

2. Respond quickly and efficiently to public health emergencies

3. Secure the health, dignity and rights of women, children and adolescents

4. Decrease the health impacts of climate and environmental change

5. Transform WHO into a more effective, transparent and accountable agency