Africa, women on health agenda
2007-01-04 14:19
Geneva - Margaret Chan took up her position as the new head of the World Health Organisation on Thursday, saying her priority was to improve the health of women and Africans.
Chan, 59, is the first Chinese to head a United Nations body. She was named director general of WHO head two months ago, following the unexpected death of her South Korean predecessor, Lee Jong-Wook.
"I have identified the health of people in Africa and the health of women as important indicators to measure the impact we make," she said.
She said there were six core areas for the WHO in the coming years: development for health, health security, health systems capacity, information and knowledge.
She previously served as health chief in Hong Kong, and is described as "authoritarian but efficient" by one diplomat who has followed her rise.
Her relationship with Beijing will be closely watched by the rest of the world at a time of growing Chinese political and economic influence.
At the time of her nomination last November, she stressed she would be impartial and not beholden to China.
"Now I'm elected as the WHO's director general I no longer carry my nationality on my sleeve. I leave it behind," she told reporters.