Ethiopia's Adhanom elected as new WHO chief

Newly elected director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivers a speech during the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, May 23, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

GENEVA - Tedros Adhanom, 52-year-old former health minister and foreign minister of Ethiopia, was elected on Tuesday as new director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), UN's health agency.

Adhanom, elected at the ongoing 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, will succeed outgoing Margaret Chan, who has been the WHO's director general since Jan 1, 2007.

Adhanom served as Ethiopia's foreign minister from 2012 to 2016, and minister of health from 2005 to 2012.

He has also chaired the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board, and co-chaired the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Adhanom will begin his five-year term on July 1.

The WHA is WHO's main decision-making body.

This year's assembly, which lasts until May 31, will also determine policies on a range of health issues, including medicines and health products, noncommunicable diseases, health emergencies, as well as maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health.