Dr Hanan Balkhy is appointed WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
23 January 2024, Geneva – The WHO Executive Board, currently holding its 154th session in Geneva, has appointed Dr Hanan Balkhy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. This follows her nomination by the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean on 10 October 2023.
Dr Balkhy takes up her appointment on 1 February 2024, for a term of 5 years. She will be the first woman to become WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
In her acceptance speech, Dr Balkhy mentioned the many challenges the world is experiencing – all of which have significant implications for health. As well as shifting global geopolitics and the rising number and frequency of emergencies, exacerbated by severe climate events, there are lessons that cannot be ignored as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These challenges underscore the undeniable interconnection between health and climate, and emphasize that every humanitarian crisis is, at its core, a health crisis,” she said.
Dr Balkhy noted that without peace, achieving health goals remains a distant prospect, and will require effective health diplomacy and renewed commitment on both global and local fronts.
She also noted that the WHO Eastern