Saima Wazed Appointed WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia

The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board has named Saima Wazed as the next WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. Saima, the daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is the first Bangladeshi and the second woman to occupy the office.

Taking oath at the WHO Executive Board, Saima expressed appreciation to Member States for their faith in her and outlined her regional goals. Her five-year term begins February 1, 2024. Addressing the silent mental health issue, Saima underlined the necessity for healthcare systems to treat physical and mental health equally.

She also emphasized her commitment to targeted initiatives for women, children, and pregnant women, with an emphasis on education, empowerment, and prevention. Wazed, citing technology as a crucial facilitator, stressed the potential of digital advances in public health, such as telemedicine and data-driven diagnosis.

Saima emphasized the significance of strengthening health systems through a primary health care strategy, addressing health disparities, and implementing a whole-of-society approach to pandemic preparation. Climate change was regarded as a priority, and Saima advocated for incorporating climate change measures into national policies.

Since 2019, Saima Wazed, a master's degree holder in clinical psychology, has served as an advisor to the WHO Director-General on Mental Health and Autism. She was honoured for her achievements with the 'Excellence in Public Health' award in 2014 and the International Champion Award in 2017 for her work on autism in Southeast Asia.