Abul Gheit meets French nominee to WHO director post

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit met on Wednesday with Philippe Douste-Blazy, French nominee to World Health Organization (WHO) director post.

Talks tackled contacts held by the French candidate to garner support for his nomination as well as the program he plans to carry out in case he was elected, said Abul Gheit's spokesman Mahmoud Afifi.

The two sides discussed Douste-Blazy's vision to activate the WHO's role in most needy areas in light of the crises that hit more than one area in the Arab region.

Six candidates are vying to succeed Margaret Chan as WHO director-general, including four men and two women representing France, Ethiopia, UK, Hungary, Pakistan and Italy.

The elections will be held in May 2017. 

Douste-Blazy is a cardiologist who has served twice as France’s minister of health and is chairman of UNITAID, a global health initiative that aims to ensure access to life-saving drugs in poor countries.

Source: MENA