Director-General of the World Health Organization

Flag of WHO

{{Infobox official post

| post = Director-General of the World Health Organization | insignia = WHO logo.svg | insigniacaption = Logo of the World Health Organization | insigniasize = 150px | image = | incumbent = Tedros Adhanom | incumbentsince = 2017 | style = Mr. Director-General | reports_to = World Health Assembly | residence = Geneva, Switzerland | appointer = World Health Assembly | formation = April 7, 1948 | first = Brock Chisholm | website = WHO Director-General

The Director-General of the World Health Organization is the chief executive officer of the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The Director-General is appointed by the World Health Assembly and serves as the highest-ranking official of the organization.

Responsibilities

The Director-General is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the organization's strategic direction, and overseeing the implementation of WHO's programs and policies. The role involves working closely with member states, international partners, and other stakeholders to address public health challenges worldwide.

History

The position of Director-General was established when the WHO was founded on April 7, 1948. The first Director-General was Brock Chisholm, who served from 1948 to 1953. Since then, a number of distinguished individuals have held the position, contributing to the organization's efforts to promote health, prevent diseases, and improve healthcare systems globally.

Incumbent

The current Director-General of the WHO is Tedros Adhanom, who assumed office in 2017. Dr. Tedros has a background in public health and has been actively involved in addressing various health challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

See also

• World Health Organization
• United Nations
• Global health