`Ten Things You Didn't Know About Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Candidate for WHO-Director General'

ATLANTA - March 23, 2017 - PRLog -- In May this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) (http://www.who.int/), the world's premier public health agency, will elect a new Director General when Dr. Margaret Chan steps down in July. The importance of this role, cannot be underestimated. Pandemics, pollution, poverty and war all add to the complexity of preserving the health of the world's almost 7 billion citizens.

A cool head, informed professionalism, and high-level organizational experience will be needed. While 3 candidates remain in the nominee field, Dr. Tedros Adhanom (http://www.drtedros.com/) of Ethiopia - stands as the most experienced, visionary, and veteran `problem-solving' leader to take on this most important global health position. In being elected to lead the WHO, Dr. Tedros will make history as the first African to head the organization.

Here are ten things you might not know about Dr. Tedros and why he's the best candidate for the job:

1. Over three decades, Dr. Tedros demonstrated a unique mix of political leadership and hands-on public health experience.

2. As Ethiopia's Minister of Health he greatly improved health outcomes in a country/region hardest hit by many of the world's biggest challenges; his comprehensive agenda of reform dramatically transformed the country's health system.

3. Dr. Tedros increased access to health care with limited resources and community engagement, using primary health care as a platform; investing in critical infrastructure, expanding the workforce and initiating pioneering financing mechanisms.

4. By overseeing the training/deployment of 38,000 health extension workers, (a `health development army') his efforts created a community-based system with nearly 3 million women at its core; leading to a 7-fold increase in health professionals and an increase of doctor training from 3 medical schools to 33 schools.

5. Under Dr. Tedros leadership, the Ministry of Health developed an integrated, household-based information management system which documents the health history of each family member, with improvements in data collection, monitoring and evaluation.

6. Health insurance in Ethiopia now provides people in both the formal/informal sectors with full coverage of services; leading Ethiopia to be the 1st country to sign a global compact with the `International Health Partnership'.

7. Dr. Tedros helped establish the pooled MDG Health Fund, facilitating the allocation of ear-marked/disease-specific funding for pressing health needs.

8. With the establishment of `Ethiopia's Pharmaceutical Supply Fund Agency', Dr. Tedros instituted transparent, accountable business processes, ensuring availability of a reliable supply of affordable, quality-assured medicines.

9. Dr. Tedros showed impressive leadership/broad understanding of valuable partnerships/relationships as Board Chair, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB & Malaria; Board Chair, Roll Back Malaria Partnership; Board Co-Chair, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health; and Chair, UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board.

10. In being elected to lead the WHO, Dr. Tedros will make history as the  first African to head the organization.

In a lifetime of service, Dr. Tedros Adhanom has used his proven political, diplomatic and negotiation skills to continue to build a healthier world for all people – a goal he will work towards when elected as the next Director-General of the World Health Organization.

Follow Dr. Tedros on his website: http://www.drtedros.com/, on Facebook.com/DrTedros.Official and on Twitter at @DrTedros.