Brazzaville, 9 November 2006 -- The Regional Director, Dr Luis G. Sambo, on behalf of the WHO staff in the African Region, has congratulated Dr Margaret Chan on her appointment as the new Director-General of WHO. He has also reassured Dr Chan of his commitment to reinforce his collaboration with her to address the African Region's health challenges.

Dr Chan, of Chinese nationality, joined WHO in 2003 as Representative of the Director-General for Avian influenza and later became the Assistant Director General for Communicable Disease.

She was elected on Wednesday by the 119th Session of the 34-member WHO Executive Board and appointed to the post today by a special session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

For more information contact: 

Public Information and Communication Unit

World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa

Brazzaville P.O. Box 6

Republic of Congo

Tel: + 47 241 39378