Indian scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan named WHO's Deputy Director-General
The World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva has appointed India's Dr. Soumya Swaminathan as the Deputy Director-General for Programmes. She is currently the Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research. She is one of the three daughters of "Indian Father of Green Revolution", Dr. MS Swaminathan. It is the second-highest post at the UN Agency and the highest held by an Indian. Know more!
WHO's announcement
New leadership team constituted to support Director-General lead WHO
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an Ethiopian appointed in May'17, announced the UN agency's new leadership team. It represents 14 nations, including all the WHO regions, and comprises over 60% women. He added the team reflects his "deep-held belief that we need top talent, gender equity, and a geographically diverse set of perspectives to fulfill our mission to keep the world safe."
Widely recognized researcher on tuberculosis, HIV
Swaminathan is an Indian pediatrician and clinical scientist. Her research on tuberculosis and HIV is globally recognized. As Deputy DG, she will hold office for five years in Geneva. She will replace Ghana's Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, who joined WHO as Senior Policy Adviser to the Director-General and served as the Assistant Director-General of the Communicable Disease Programme and the HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Programme.
Daughter of a geneticist and an educationist
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is the daughter of the acclaimed Indian geneticist Dr. MS Swaminathan and Mina, an educationist in the pre-school education field. Her mother was a Consultant to UNESCO on Early Childhood Care and Education and UNICEF as well.
Worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan has a vast experience of over 30 years in clinical care and research. She had also worked with the UNICEF during 2009-11 as the Coordinator of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) in Geneva. She also served as the Director of the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis in Chennai.
Part of several committees of WHO, international advisory bodies
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan was part of WHO Expert Panel to Review Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of the Global TB Department at WHO, and Co-Chair of the Lancet Commission on TB.
