Mrs Myriam Abel, of the Republic of Vanuatu* , was elected Chairman by the 108^th Session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the period 2001-2002.

Forty-nine-year old Mrs Abel is from the Republic of Vanuatu. Since March 1999, Mrs Abel has been Director of Public Health in Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health. After having completed nursing studies in 1972, she continued studying midwifery and paediatric nursing before going on to obtain a diploma in tropical health from the University of Queensland in Australia. Mrs Abel, who is a trainer and programme coordinator, has occupied key public health positions in her country, which she has represented as an expert at major meetings. She has two children and is the youthful grandmother of three grandchildren.

Mrs Abel will be assisted by three Vice-Chairmen and two Rapporteurs:

• Mr J. A. Chowdhury (India).
• Dr B. Sadrizadeh (Islamic Republic of Iran).
• Professor T. Zeltner (Switzerland).
• Dr D. Bodzongo (Congo).
• Dr C. Modeste-Curwen (Grenada).

The Executive Board has 32 members, elected for their public health expertise. The Board meets twice a year, in January and immediately after the closure of the World Health Assembly, generally in May. It is the executive body of the Assembly, to which it submits the biennial budget and programme of work.

The 109th session of the Executive Board will take place in Geneva from 14 to 21 January 2002.