Geneva: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the first African to head the WHO, was re-elected on Tuesday, tearfully accepting a second term as he recalled his humble upbringing as “;a child of war” and pleading for peace.
His re-election was announced to thundering applause during the World Health Organization’s main annual assembly, after receiving more than two-thirds of secret-ballot votes cast, as needed to be appointed.
The UN health agency did not provide a breakdown, but sources in the room said he had received 155 of the 160 votes cast.
“;I am really, really overwhelmed by the support,” Tedros told the assembly.
“;I am really proud to be WHO.”
The Ethiopian former minister of health and foreign affairs has become a familiar face worldwide as he spearheads the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 57-year-old malaria expert has also increasingly been sounding the alarm over the heavy toll that conflicts like the war in Ukraine are taking on global health.
