Dr. Richard Mihigo, Rwanda’s candidate for the position of Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Regional Office, has commenced tours to various African countries to garner support for his candidacy.
The experienced public health official got his campaigns underway on Wednesday, July 10 as he, along with foreign affairs minister Olivier Nduhungirehe visited Congo Brazzaville and met with the country’s president Denis Sassou Nguesso.
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Elections for the Director-General of the WHO Africa Regional Office are carried out by the WHO Regional Committee for Africa which comprises health ministers from African member states. Voting is done by secret ballot, and the candidate who receives majority votes is elected as the Director-General.
During the campaigns, gaining endorsements from governments as well as organisations within the global health community can bolster a candidate&039;s chances.
The New Times understands that after Dr Mihigo’s trip to Congo Brazzaville, he will continue to travel to other countries to engage with their leaders in the health sector as part of his campaigns.
"I would like to sincerely thank President Sassou Nguesso for his full support for the Rwanda candidacy for the position of RD (Regional Director) WHO Africa,” Mihigo posted on X after his visit to Brazzaville.
He added that he is committed to working with Congo Brazzaville and other African countries for the wellbeing of all Africans.
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Mihigo is a seasoned public health expert with expertise in immunisation. Among others, he holds a Master of Public Health in International Health from Boston University School of Public Health, USA. He served in many positions, including as the Regional Coordinator of the Immunisation and Vaccine Development Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Africa from 2014 until early 2022.
Between April 2022 and February 2024, Mihigo was the Global Lead and Senior Director for Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery, Coordination, and Integration at Gavi, a position he held until his recent bid for the candidacy to lead the WHO Africa Regional Office.
As he vies for the post, Mihigo envisions an African region where health is at the core of the development agenda, with universal health coverage, accelerated efforts to ensure quality, accessible, and affordable health care for all, through a strong primary health care system tailored to the needs of each African country.
His vision for Africa also focuses on prevention, preparedness, and response by strengthening surveillance, accelerating local manufacturing, and increasing the health workforce to address and manage emerging and re-emerging public health threats effectively.
Reducing the disease burden on the continent, combating communicable diseases, mitigating non-communicable diseases and mental health issues, as well as addressing maternal, newborn, and child mortality, are also key components of his agenda for WHO Africa.