Saima Wazed wins in WHO SEARO Regional Director election

Saima Wazed was elected as the World Health Organization's regional director for Southeast Asia, which comprises eleven nations.

Ten countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste participated in the voting. Saima Wazed has received 8 votes while Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya, nominated by Nepal, has received 2 votes. The voting took place in New Delhi of India on Wednesday (1 November) at the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia’s 76^th session. Another member, Myanmar, did not attend the meeting.

She will take office on 1 February 2024.

Saima Wazed is well-known across the world as a mental health expert, notably in the field of autism. She is an advisor to the WHO’s director-general for mental health. She is also the daughter of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.