New Director-General of WHO greeted by ICM.

• Tenlastelegging: News from ICM and partners - International Confederation of Midwives - Brief article

Dr Margaret Chan of China will be the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). During her acceptance speech, Dr Chan said that, although WHO is a health organisation for the whole world, "we must focus our attention on the people in greatest need. Improvements in the health of the people of Africa and the health of women are key indicators of the performance of WHO."

Dr Chan's appointment was confirmed on November 9 by the World Health Assembly, in a process which was decided following the sudden death of Dr LEE Jong-wook, the previous WHO Director-General, on 22 May 2006. The Director-General is WHO's chief technical and administrative officer. Dr Chan was previously WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases. Dr Chan obtained her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and has a degree in public health from the National University of Singapore.

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