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WHO's Margaret Chan Nominated by China to Head Agency (Update1)
July 25 (Bloomberg) -- The World Health Organization's Margaret Chan, who helped lead pandemic influenza preparations, will step aside from her post after she was nominated by China to lead the United Nations health agency.
Chan, who is also assistant director-general for communicable diseases, began a leave of absence today, said Christine McNab, a WHO spokeswoman. Chan, 58, joined the Geneva- based agency in 2003 after serving for four years as director of health in Hong Kong, which supports her nomination.
``We feel she's fully capable of the new position,'' York Chow, Hong Kong's secretary for health, welfare and food, said today in an e-mailed transcript of a speech. ``She has orchestrated efforts among developing countries to prevent a bird flu epidemic. She also gained support from major countries and influenced drugmakers to develop vaccines.''
Chan is the third senior WHO official to step aside since June after being nominated by a member-state for director- general, a post South Korea's Lee Jong-Wook held until his death in May after surgery to remove a clot on his brain. Employees of the WHO aren't able to continue working at the organization if they are being considered for the position.
``I am honored by this nomination,'' Chan said in an e-mail today.
Chan helped spearhead a WHO global program to prevent the spread of the H5N1 strain of bird flu and prepare for any pandemic the virus might spawn. Human H5N1 fatalities have almost tripled this year as the virus spread in wild birds and domestic poultry to at least 38 countries.
`Critical Role'
``I regret the need for her to step down from her current position as she has played a really critical role in the WHO response to H5N1,'' Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said in an e-mail.
Osterholm said he supported Chan's nomination and that he hoped ``the replacement process for Dr. Lee goes quickly.''
McNab said Chan's departure won't interrupt work on the global influenza program or on any other work regarding communicable diseases. David Heymann, representative of the director-general for polio eradication, will assume Chan's duties, McNab said.
H5N1 has infected at least 231 people in 10 countries in Asia and the Middle East, killing 133, in the past three years.
Omi, Behbehani
Shigeru Omi, the WHO's Manila-based regional director for the Western Pacific, began a leave of absence in June after Japan nominated him. The Philippines will most likely support Omi's candidacy, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
Kazem Behbehani, the WHO's assistant director-general of external relations and governing bodies, also stepped aside after nomination by the government of Kuwait.
Proposals from member states are being accepted by the WHO secretariat until Sept. 5. Anders Nordstrom will continue as acting director-general of the WHO until a new head takes office, the agency said on May 30.
The executive board of the UN agency will decide on a shortlist of five candidates and interview them from Nov. 6-8, the WHO said. The World Health Assembly will vote on the board's nomination at a one-day special session on Nov. 9 and decide when a contract for the new director-general would take effect.
To contact the reporters on this story:Jason Gale in Singapore at j.gale@bloomberg.net</PRE>Last Updated: July 25, 2006 08:01 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ab9xI2w9Hr3Q&refer=canada
July 25 (Bloomberg) -- The World Health Organization's Margaret Chan, who helped lead pandemic influenza preparations, will step aside from her post after she was nominated by China to lead the United Nations health agency.
Chan, who is also assistant director-general for communicable diseases, began a leave of absence today, said Christine McNab, a WHO spokeswoman. Chan, 58, joined the Geneva- based agency in 2003 after serving for four years as director of health in Hong Kong, which supports her nomination.
``We feel she's fully capable of the new position,'' York Chow, Hong Kong's secretary for health, welfare and food, said today in an e-mailed transcript of a speech. ``She has orchestrated efforts among developing countries to prevent a bird flu epidemic. She also gained support from major countries and influenced drugmakers to develop vaccines.''
Chan is the third senior WHO official to step aside since June after being nominated by a member-state for director- general, a post South Korea's Lee Jong-Wook held until his death in May after surgery to remove a clot on his brain. Employees of the WHO aren't able to continue working at the organization if they are being considered for the position.
``I am honored by this nomination,'' Chan said in an e-mail today.
Chan helped spearhead a WHO global program to prevent the spread of the H5N1 strain of bird flu and prepare for any pandemic the virus might spawn. Human H5N1 fatalities have almost tripled this year as the virus spread in wild birds and domestic poultry to at least 38 countries.
`Critical Role'
``I regret the need for her to step down from her current position as she has played a really critical role in the WHO response to H5N1,'' Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said in an e-mail.
Osterholm said he supported Chan's nomination and that he hoped ``the replacement process for Dr. Lee goes quickly.''
McNab said Chan's departure won't interrupt work on the global influenza program or on any other work regarding communicable diseases. David Heymann, representative of the director-general for polio eradication, will assume Chan's duties, McNab said.
H5N1 has infected at least 231 people in 10 countries in Asia and the Middle East, killing 133, in the past three years.
Omi, Behbehani
Shigeru Omi, the WHO's Manila-based regional director for the Western Pacific, began a leave of absence in June after Japan nominated him. The Philippines will most likely support Omi's candidacy, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
Kazem Behbehani, the WHO's assistant director-general of external relations and governing bodies, also stepped aside after nomination by the government of Kuwait.
Proposals from member states are being accepted by the WHO secretariat until Sept. 5. Anders Nordstrom will continue as acting director-general of the WHO until a new head takes office, the agency said on May 30.
The executive board of the UN agency will decide on a shortlist of five candidates and interview them from Nov. 6-8, the WHO said. The World Health Assembly will vote on the board's nomination at a one-day special session on Nov. 9 and decide when a contract for the new director-general would take effect.
To contact the reporters on this story:Jason Gale in Singapore at j.gale@bloomberg.net</PRE>Last Updated: July 25, 2006 08:01 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ab9xI2w9Hr3Q&refer=canada