Mister Chairperson
Honourable members of the Executive Board
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you. I want to express my appreciation very briefly.
I am deeply honoured by your vote of confidence. You had a difficult choice to make. I was one person on a list that includes some of the leading figures in public health today. These are my colleagues, and I look forward to working with them in our shared determination to make this world a healthier place.
This is a moment of personal honour for me, but also of deep personal responsibility. I do not take this lightly.
It is also a moment of reflection and respect. We are all here because of the untimely death of Dr Jong-wook Lee. We are also all here because of many millions of untimely deaths. I know Dr Lee would have wanted me to make this point. He will always be remembered for the 3 by 5 initiative. That was all about preventing untimely deaths on the grandest scale possible.
If my nomination is confirmed by the Health Assembly tomorrow, I intend to take the legacy of Dr Lee and his predecessors forward. You know my vision for WHO, the priorities I would like to introduce, my background and my experience. I have the commitment, passion, and humility to serve the Member States of WHO. I have the determination to achieve results for health. I am sure we have the power to do so. We just need to be very smart in our planning and priority setting, and street-wise in our actions.
Rest assured that I will work tirelessly, with my eyes on the goals we agree on together, my ears open to the voices of all, and my heart committed to the populations of your countries.
Thank you.