WHO to nominate a new leader for Western Pacific

World Health Organization to nominate a new leader for the Western Pacific

Fifty-ninth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific
22-26 September, 2008, Manila, Philippines

MANILA, Philippines, 17 September 2008—Candidates from Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Tonga are to compete next week for the post of Regional Director of the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization.

The contenders for the top WHO regional post are Dr Tee Ah Sian of Malaysia, Dr Shin Young-Soo of the Republic of Korea and Dr Viliami Ta'u Tangi of Tonga. The nominee, upon confirmation by the WHO Executive Board, will succeed Dr Shigeru Omi of Japan, whose second five-year term ends on 31 January 2009.

The candidacies will be submitted to the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, WHO's governing body in the Region, when it meets in Manila from 22 to 26 September 2008 to review WHO's work in the Region.

Dr Shin, 64, is currently Professor at the College of Medicine at Seoul National University.

Dr Tangi, 60, is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Health and Chief Surgeon in the Kingdom of Tonga. Dr Tee, 60, is currently WHO's Director for Combating Communicable Diseases in the Western Pacific.

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