UGANDA – Uganda Minister of Health Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has been appointed the second Vice President of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee in Africa, the agency has announced on its website.

The WHO African Regional Committee is responsible for formulating regional policies on Health to guide the participating governments and the committee comprises of Ministers of Health or their representatives from each of the 47 Member States in the Region.

The Regional Committee formulates regional policies and supervises the regional office as set out in Article 50 of the WHO Constitution as well as nominates the Regional Director for Africa every five years and transmits its decision to the WHO Executive Board for endorsement.

The specialized agency of the United Nations highlighted that Jane Ruth Aceng appointment was conducted during the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lomé, Togo which commenced on 22nd August 2022 and will be ending on 26th August 2022.

Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng was appointed as the Minister of Health Uganda in June 2016.

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Besides her current role as the Uganda Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng is a Pediatrician expert and is currently at the level of Senior Consultant Pediatrics as well as a Public Health expert.

She has worked for the Ministry of Health in Uganda as a Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer, Medical Officer Special Grade, Medical Superintendent, Consultant Pediatrician, Senior Consultant Pediatrician, Hospital Director and Director General of Health Services.

On her appointment at the Togolese capital, Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said that Uganda was honored to be appointed second vice president, adding that she humbly assumed her seat as one of the chairpersons at the ongoing session of the Regional Committee for Africa in Togo.

Dr Aceng further said that Uganda is represented by the State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties Anifa Kawooya, WHO Epidemiologist and Study Coordinator at the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) Dr Daniel Kyabayinze and Commissioner Dr Timothy Musila.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus divulged that African Ministers and government representatives will discuss measures to lower the burden of diseases and endorse strategies to promote access to health services in the continent during Africa’s top health forum.

’We are calling on all member states to make an urgent paradigm shift toward promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes and creating the condition for health to thrive,’’ Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus added.

Furthermore, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti called for equity in the allocation of health resources while noting that equity is a key factor in the health outcomes in Africa and globally.

Nothing has better demonstrated the urgency of addressing it comprehensively and effectively than this pandemic inequity is a key driver of vulnerability to disease and illness. I’d like to urge that we collectively address it at the Centre of our health action,’’ Dr Matshidiso said.

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