World Health Organisation has appointed a Nigerian doctor, Ayoade Alakija as special envoy.
Gatekeepers News reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has appointed a Nigerian doctor, Ayoade Alakija, as its special envoy for the access to COVID-19 tools accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).
Alakija is a medical doctor with a masters degree in public health and epidemiology from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
She currently serves as co-chair of the Africa Union Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance for COVID-19 (AVDA), and was a former chief humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria.
The ACT-accelerator partnership is a global initiative offering an integrated, end-to-end solution to end of the pandemic through thelk accelerated development and equitable distribution of vaccines, tests and treatments.
WHO, In a statement said Alakija will join a former prime minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt in the same role.
WHO added that Alakija will help lead the collective advocacy for the ACT-accelerator, mobiliselk support and resources so the organisation can deliver on its strategic plan that was launched on 28 October 2021.
The statement added that the WHO director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus said Alakija’s appointment comes at a critical point in the fight against COVID, with the Omicron variant threatening to further constrain equitable access to vaccines.
“Dr Alakija brings a tremendous track record in advocating for equitable access to vaccines, tests and treatments, especially for Africa. We are very much looking forward to working with her to advocate for the full financing of the ACT Accelerator, and to meeting the global targets for COVID-19 vaccination, testing and treatment,” he said.
Alakija, in her response, said: “I come to this role to serve and to be part of a team that will ensure that the fruits of our collective work bring meaningful access and dignity in health in this pandemic that is felt in every village, town and city.”
