November 10, 2006
DR. CHAN TO FOCUS WHO ON WOMEN AND AFRICA
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Dr. Margaret Chan to head the World Health Organization |
In a wholly different set of elections, the World Health Organization appointed Dr. Margaret Chan to be WHO's next Director-General. WHO has a critical influence on the health policies and practices of governments throughout the world, and Dr. Chan set her priorities in her acceptance speech: Africa and women.
The most vulnerable among us have long needed such high-level commitment to meaningfully addressing the health crisis in Africa, where the AIDS pandemic is at its worst, and women's health worldwide.
"That success, however, will ultimately depend on her willingness to simultaneously promote public health and human rights, and to speak out on controversial issues with integrity," said Jodi Jacobson, Executive Director for the Center for Health and Gender Equity. "It will also depend on her immediate demonstration of accountability to the individuals and communities at greatest risk of disease, death, and disenfranchisement."
Dr. Chan was nominated as Director-General on Wednesday by the WHO Executive Board and her appointment was confirmed on Thursday by the World Health Assembly. The Director-General is WHO's chief technical and administrative officer. She was previously WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases and Representative of the Director-General for Pandemic Influenza.
Dr. Chan's specific views on HIV/AIDS and women's health, however, remain a mystery.
"We regret," stated Jacobson, "that Dr. Chan did not respond to the civil society questionnaire circulated to all candidates last month. Civil society organizations throughout the world want to see Dr. Chan succeed in her new role, and stand ready to help her in that process. However, we need to ensure that there are avenues of communication open for that to happen."
In mid-October, over 50 organizations from throughout the world sent a questionnaire to the standing candidates for Director General of the WHO asking for their input on critical questions regarding HIV/AIDS, TB, and sexual and reproductive health issues. In the accompanying letter, the group laid out their expectations for action to end AIDS:
"This plan must outline a comprehensive response that will mark progress towards universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support; ensure commitment by WHO to mobilizing needed resources; make human rights integral to all medical and public health responses to the epidemic; address urgent and long term issues related to health workers and health care systems; assist countries in mobilizing sufficient resources for their own national efforts; support prevention interventions based simultaneously on evidence and on the promotion of basic human rights; and work with the international community on financing and trade policies to ensure universal access to lifesaving drugs. Central to all of this work must be the involvement of PLWHA, all vulnerable populations and a clear commitment to gender equity."
Perhaps Dr. Chan will welcome such community insight. In her speech, she talked about the sort of political neglect that has exacerbated AIDS in Africa and the crisis in women's health:
"As we know, not all of the problems faced by WHO in its efforts to improve world health are subject to scientific scrutiny, or yield their secrets under a microscope. You know the ones I mean: lack of resources and too little political commitment. These are often the true 'killers'."
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