Margaret Chan was selected as WHO Director-General

Dr. Margaret Chan, SARS and avian influenza specialist, yesterday November 8 was appointed as head of the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the first Chinese person to be elected to a position. High level at the United Nations.

Margaret Chan is a SARS and avian influenza expert (Photo: AFP)

This is also a victory for China. The appointment of Ms. Chan as WHO Director-General shows that Beijing is playing an increasingly large role in global issues.

Mr. Sha Zukang, Chinese ambassador at the United Nations in Geneva smiled happily after the vote and said he was happy with the result.

WHO leadership has chosen Ms. Chan among 5 candidates (including Kuwait, China, Mexico, Japan and Spain) to fill the vacancy left by General Director Lee Jong-wook since May. He died after an emergency surgery to cure a brain hematoma.

Ms. Chan will officially become the Director-General of WHO after being approved by 2/3 of WHO's members at a special session of the general assembly, including 193 member countries, taking place tomorrow, 9- 11. Voting will be carried out following the recommendation of WHO leadership.

Chan took on the role of WHO's avian influenza specialist in 2005 and later became the assistant director-general of WHO, leading the organization's efforts to fight the spread of the flu. Poultry and prepare for the fight against pandemic influenza in the event that bird flu changes into a new form easily spread from person to person.

Ms. Chan graduated in medicine from Western Ontario University (Canada), worked at the Hong Kong Department of Health in 1978.

WALL VY