Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Giang Huong (second from right) in a meeting with French authorities. (Photo: VNA) Paris (VNA) – Associate Professor Dr. , a
candidate for the position of WHO Regional Director for the
for the term 2024-2029, came to Paris on September 26 to discuss with French authorities about her candidacy.
The French authorities spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievement
in the fight against COVID-19, its proactive role in the multilateral organisations,
as well as the initiative to organise the International Day for Epidemic
Preparedness (December 27).
Hailing Vietnam’s nomination for the position, they affirmed they will
continue coordination with Vietnam at the multilateral forums and international
organisations to promote the potential of each nation in the fields of their
strengths, especially public health care.
Earlier, Vietnamese Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan officially sent a
letter to the WHO Director General, nominating Huong for the position. This is
the first time Vietnam has had a candidate for this important position at the
WHO.
Huong, born in 1968, is an expert in public health and global health with more
than 32 years of experience, holding many important positions in the health
sector such as Director of the Health Ministry’s International Cooperation
Department, head of ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting on Health Development
(SOMHD) in the 2014-2016 term, Chair of APEC Health Working Group (2011-2012
and 2017-2018), Alternate Member of the WHO Executive Board, World Health
Assembly (2016-2019). From July 2019 to now, Huong is Director of the Disease
Control Programmes of the WHO Regional Office for the Western
Pacific.
The doctor has made important and effective contributions to the cause of
public health care and international integration of Vietnam’s health sector,
enhancing the role and position of the health sector in the region and in the
world.
As Director of the Disease Control Programmes of the WHO Regional Office
for the Western Pacific, Huong has made important contributions to the
prevention and control of COVID-19, infectious and non-communicable diseases,
the improvement of mental health and the elimination of malaria in the Greater
Mekong Subregion and neglected tropical diseases. She also contributed to the
implementation of the expanded immunisation programme and many other public
health programmes.
According to WHO regulations, the candidates will conduct consultations
with member states and then secret voting will be held to nominate the next
Regional Director in a closed meeting during the 74th session of the WHO
Regional Committee for the Western Pacific scheduled for October 16-20 this
year in Manila, the Philippines.
Huong is one of the five candidates for the posistion. The others are Dr Song Li, nominated by China;
Dr Susan Mercado from the Philippines; Dr Jimmie Rodgers, proposed by
Solomon Islands; and Saia Ma’u Piukala from Tonga./.
Source: VietnamPlus
