Margaret Chan issues manifesto for election of WHO director-General

Margaret Chan, a former Hong Kong health official and nominated by the Chinese government to run for the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) , released her election manifesto Tuesday, pledging to strengthen the role of WTO in fighting diseases if elected.

"The health challenge we face are daunting, but these are optimistic times," she said in her manifesto, entitled Attaining Results for Health, posted on the website of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administration (HKSAR).

Chan emphasized that WHO had the mandate, experience and authority to do great good in the world, and could attain impressive results for health provided that all positive forces could be harnessed under strong leadership.

She identified her six priorities if elected to the top post, including development, security, capacity, information and knowledge, partnerships and performance.

She said that she would focus on helping countries combat diseases, including a possible bird flu pandemic, and pledged to reduce child mortality and combat AIDS in developing countries if she will be elected to succeed Lee Jong-wook of South Korea, who died suddenly in May.

"I will serve member states, promote fruitful partnership in line with WHO priorities, and work to improve the relevance of WHO in a rapidly changing world," she said.

Her comments came ahead of a deadline midnight Tuesday, when the UN agency will stop accepting nominations for the position of director-general.

More than a dozen senior officials, including Shigero Omi, the head of WHO's western Pacific operations, are also in the running for the top job.

The organization's new leader is set to be appointed by a special assembly of the WHO's 192 member states on November 9.

Source: Xinhua