The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially appointed Dr. Pavel Ursu as its new Country Representative to Nigeria, a key move to bolster collaborative efforts in tackling the nation's pressing health challenges, including disease outbreaks, maternal mortality, and system resilience.
Dr. Ursu presented his credentials to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 14, 2025, marking the formal start of his tenure amid Nigeria's ongoing push toward Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The appointment, announced by WHO's Regional Office for Africa, underscores the organization's renewed commitment to partnering with Nigeria on critical fronts such as primary healthcare strengthening, combating infectious and non-communicable diseases, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and enhancing emergency preparedness.
During the credential presentation ceremony, Dr. Ursu conveyed warm greetings from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, while commending Nigeria's leadership in global health initiatives.
In his address, Dr. Ursu highlighted Nigeria's notable achievements, including the eradication of wild poliovirus and a successful integrated immunization campaign that reached over 106 million children nationwide.
He outlined six strategic pillars to guide WHO-Nigeria collaboration: domestic health financing and sustainability; strategic innovation in health technologies; system resilience against emergencies; greater inclusiveness across health sectors; enhanced data-driven decision-making; and robust partnerships for equitable health access.
Dr. Ursu brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as Director of the Office of the WHO Regional Director for Africa (2023–2025), WHO Representative to Zimbabwe (2018–2022), and WHO Representative to Liberia (2015–2018).
His background positions him well to navigate Nigeria's complex health landscape, where challenges like Lassa fever with over 6,939 suspected cases and 159 deaths reported between January and August 2025—continue to strain resources.
Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, welcomed the appointment, emphasizing its timeliness as the country revitalizes mental health policies and addresses disparities in care, particularly in conflict-affected regions and among internally displaced persons.
Earlier this month, Dr. Ursu had already commended Nigeria's mental health reforms during World Mental Health Day observances, aligning with the federal government's view that mental health is a fundamental human right, not a luxury.
The WHO's engagement in Nigeria remains pivotal, supporting initiatives like polio eradication efforts slated for completion by year's end and broader responses to public health threats.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com