Saima Wazed was confirmed as the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia by the WHO Executive Board in Geneva, Switzerland.
After taking oath as the new Regional Director, Wazed in her acceptance speech at the WHO Executive Board said, ”I would like to thank the Member States for the trust they have placed in me. There is a lot of work to be done, and I am extremely pleased to be starting this journey at this moment with all of you. I am excited for all that we can, and will, do together in the coming years.”
Wazed begins a five-year term on 1 February 2024. She is the first from Bangladesh and the second woman Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Region. She was nominated as the next Regional Director in a vote by the Regional Committee for South-East Asia on 1 November 2023 in New Delhi, India.
Emphasizing on her priorities, the new Regional Director said, “The first of these is a strong focus on mental health….a long-neglected area. It is time to turn the tide against the silent illness of mental health which impacts every aspect of the lives affected. I will work towards ensuring relative parity between physical and mental health in our healthcare systems.”
Wazed emphasized on partnerships, collaboration and financing that’s transparent, sustainable, and provides adequate return on investment.