Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), was recently honoured with the esteemed 2023 CPHIA Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Health at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa in Lusaka, Zambia. The award acknowledges Dr. Tedros’s exceptional commitment to advancing global health and his influential leadership during unprecedented challenges.
Expressing his admiration for Dr. Tedros, Africa CDC’s Director General, Dr. Jean Kasaye, commended his transformative leadership, resilience, and foresight in navigating complex global health issues. Dr. Kasaye emphasized Dr. Tedros’s steadfast dedication to enhancing healthcare accessibility, equity, and addressing emerging health threats, greatly impacting millions worldwide. Dr. Tedros played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Africa CDC and actively supported the African Union’s Special Summit on HIV, TB, and Malaria (ATM) declaration in Abuja back in 2013, which recognized the necessity for an Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) during his tenure as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Tedros stressed the significance of a healthy Africa as the cornerstone of the continent’s development, peace, and stability. He urged African nations to leverage their resources and invest in bolstering their health sectors.
Dr. Tedros, who ascended to the position of WHO Director-General in 2017, is renowned as the “Father of Africa CDC,” becoming the first African to lead the world’s foremost public health agency. His tenure as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012 was marked by comprehensive healthcare system reforms, laying the groundwork for universal health coverage and enhancing access to essential healthcare services, even in remote areas.
During his subsequent role as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016, Dr. Tedros elevated health to a prominent position on the global political agenda. He played a pivotal role in negotiating the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, an influential accord committing 193 countries to provide the necessary financing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, including those pertaining to health.
Throughout his career, Dr. Tedros consistently advocated for health equity, championing policies and programs to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Prior to his leadership at the WHO, he held several key global health leadership positions, including Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, and Co-chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Board.
Dr. Tedros’s leadership was indispensable during health emergencies, emphasizing the imperative of strengthening health systems to effectively respond to crises, while directing WHO’s resources and attention towards preparedness and response strategies. This approach was notably evident in WHO’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic and various Ebola outbreaks, where his guidance played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of these devastating health crises.
