ABUJA – The 47-member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO), African Region, has nominated Dr Matshidiso Moeti to serve a second five-year term as Regional Director for Africa.

The nomination took place during the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, which is the governing mechanism involving health ministers from all member-states. Moeti’s candidacy was endorsed by the African Union Executive Council earlier this year.

Her nomination, according to a press statement made available to newsmen by WHO, will be ratified by the 146th WHO Executive Board at its January 2020 session. If ratified, her second term will begin March 1, 2020.

The statement reads: “I am very honoured to be nominated for a second term as Regional Director for Africa,” said Dr Moeti.

“During the past five years, I have worked to transform the WHO secretariat so that we better respond to the health needs of millions of Africans.

“This nomination is an endorsement of the many achievements we have reached together with health ministries. I intend for us to scale more mountains together over the next five years.”

During her first term, Africa made significant advances in health. When Moeti was elected in 2015, the region was in the throes of the West African Ebola outbreak.