Chikwe Ihekweazu Appointed Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the former Director-General of Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has been appointed as the acting Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region. His appointment was confirmed on Tuesday during the ongoing 156th session of the WHO Executive Board in Geneva, Switzerland.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed confidence in Ihekweazu’s leadership, emphasizing that Africa will be in “capable hands” for the next four months. This interim period will last until a new regional director is elected in May 2025. Ihekweazu takes over from Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, whose decade-long tenure as Regional Director has come to an end.

Dr. Moeti, in her farewell message, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration with member states and partners that helped strengthen Africa’s health systems. She also celebrated the key achievements during her leadership, which advanced health initiatives and universal healthcare access across the continent.

Before his new appointment, Ihekweazu served as WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence, a role he held since 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in infectious disease epidemiology, Ihekweazu has held significant leadership roles in several international health institutions, including the South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the UK’s Health Protection Agency, and Germany’s Robert Koch Institute. His leadership at NCDC was critical in guiding Nigeria’s response to multiple health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ihekweazu’s appointment marks a new chapter for the WHO Africa region as the organization continues to build on its achievements and work towards improving public health on the continent.