Saraki’s wife gets new appointment

Wife of the Senate President, Toyin Ojora Saraki has been named as
special advisor to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of WHO AFRO,
the World Health Organization's presence in Africa.

The appointment was announced by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr
Matshidiso Moeti.

Mrs Saraki's first engagement in the new role will take place this
week at the 3rd meeting of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

The meeting will focus on repositioning the work of the WHO in Africa
in the context of the WHO's 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and
the global WHO Transformation Plan.

Reacting to her appointment, Mrs Saraki, in a statement, said:"I
welcome the Advisory Group meeting's focus on the health of women,
children and adolescents as flagship indicators for Universal
Healthcare Coverage (UHC) progress.

"As a global champion for UHC, I advocate for a fuller understanding
of its benefits, which go beyond health outcomes and include improved
gender equality, higher levels of preparedness for epidemic outbreaks
and transformative economic effects.

"As Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of
Midwives, I particularly welcome the introduction of WHO AFRO's
focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of
Midwives and Nurses in Africa.

"I am looking forward to hitting the ground running in my new role as
special advisor at the Independent Advisory Group meeting this week in
Johannesburg.

"The experience I have gained as Founder-President of the Wellbeing
Foundation Africa, working closely with our midwives on the frontline,
as part of the global Every Woman Every Child Strategy to end all
preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths,
by 2030, will inform my advice to the WHO.

"Last year Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus became the first African
Director-General of the WHO. His commitment to Universal Health
Coverage represents bold leadership and I look forward to working
closely with him, Dr Moeti and all partners to make affordable and
accessible healthcare a reality across Africa."