Saima Wazed appointed as WHO regional director
Bangladesh's Premier Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed Putul has officially assumed the role of the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for Southeast Asia for the next five years, commencing from 1 February.
The decision to appoint Saima Wazed was reached on 1 November 2023, during the 76th session of the Regional Committee of WHO South-East Asia in New Delhi, India. The closed meeting saw unanimous support for her candidacy, following her nomination by the Government of Bangladesh for the esteemed position.
Saima's significant achievements include drafting three international resolutions that were subsequently adopted by member countries of the United Nation and WHO.
Currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Organisational Leadership at Barry University (USA), Saima has been actively contributing to global health initiatives. Since 2019, she has served as an Advisor to the Director General of WHO on Mental Health and Autism, while concurrently being a member of WHO's Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health since 2014.
In August 2023, she assumed the role of Associate Fellow at the Global Health Program at Chatham House, where her involvement dates back to 2022 as a Commissioner at the Commission for Universal Health.
Saima's commitment to addressing global challenges extends to her role as Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability for the Climate Vulnerable Forum since 2020. Prior to this, from 2017 to 2019, she served as WHO SEARO's Goodwill Ambassador for Autism, showcasing her dedication to fostering awareness and understanding in critical health domains.
This appointment solidifies Saima Wazed's standing as a prominent figure in the realm of international health, and her multifaceted contributions are poised to positively impact the Southeast Asia region during her tenure as the WHO regional director.
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