The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the appointment of a new Country Representative for Sierra Leone. Mr Evans Majani Liyosi, a Kenyan, on Wednesday presented his credentials to the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nimatulai Bah Chang in Freetown.
According to a statement from the UN health agency’s country office, the conclusion of the presentation gave Mr Liyosi the official recognition by the government to represent the organization in the country.
Mr Liyosi, who previously acted as WHO Representative in the Republic of South Sudan, is said to have worked with the agency for more than 10 years at different managerial and technical levels in several countries.
He also has a good experience working in the government and NGO sectors. He has notably worked on health emergencies, surveillance, reproductive health and other strategic public health areas and has worked with “He is bringing to his new post more than 20 years of experience in public health management and leadership and high technical expertise in the control of communicable diseases,” the WHO said.
Foreign Minister Bah Chang expressed appreciation to the WHO for the continued support to the country’s health systems and reaffirmed the government’s commitment in providing the conducive environment to carry out its mandates.
“Sierra Leone has always been a home for previous WHO Representatives and I hope you will also enjoy the same relationship like your predecessors,” she stated.
“I am here to support the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in achieving its set health priorities, strengthen coordination with health development partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal-3 focusing on the triple billion which aims to ensure that one billion more people are enjoying better health and wellbeing; one billion more people are better protected from health emergencies and one billion more people are benefitting from Universal Health overage,” Mr Liyosi was quoted saying.
Mr Liyosi took over the Sierra Leone office of the WHO from Mr Alexander Chimbaru, who served in the capacity of the Officer-In-Charge since June 2017.
KC/abj/APA