Saima Wazed nominated for WHO Regional Director

City Desk :
Saima Wazed has been nominated by the Government of Bangladesh for the post of Regional Director of World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEARO).

WHO SEARO is one of the six regional offices of the WHO, composed of representatives of the member states.

“I am deeply honoured to be nominated by the Government of Bangladesh for WHO SEARO Regional Director,” Saima Wazed said, reports UNB.

“If elected, I plan on working in close collaboration with the Member States to realise my vision for the public health policies and practices of our region.

I believe in working in partnerships, and hearing from communities themselves to create lasting solutions that work from the ground up.

This has characterised my work till date, and this is what I hope to bring to this role.”

Saima Wazed’s significant achievements include drafting three international resolutions that were subsequently adopted by member countries of the UN and WHO:- In 2014 at WHO 67.8 Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders.- In 2012 WHO-RC: SEA/RC65/ R8 Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities.- In 2012 UNGA: 67/82 Addressing the Socioeconomic Needs of Individuals, Families and Societies Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Disorders and Associated Disabilities.

Saima Wazed is currently completing her doctoral studies at Barry University (USA) in Organisational Leadership.

She has been an Advisor to the Director General of WHO on Mental Health and Autism since 2019, and is a member of WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health since 2014.

In August 2023 she was appointed as an Associate Fellow at the Global Health Program at Chatham House, where she has also been serving since 2022 as a Commissioner at the Commission for Universal Health.