Saima Wazed, Bangladesh PM’s Daughter Takes Charge As WHO’s Southeast Asia Regional Director

Saima Wazed, daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, officially assumed the role of regional director for the Southeast Asia region at the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday. This marks a historic moment, as Wazed becomes the first individual from Bangladesh and the second woman to hold this prestigious position.

Her appointment came after she was nominated by member countries of WHO Southeast Asia during the regional committee session on November 1, 2023. The WHO executive board later confirmed her appointment on January 23 in Geneva. In her new role, Wazed will oversee international health efforts in 11 countries, representing a population of over 2 billion people.

Wazed articulated her vision for the region, emphasizing her commitment to strengthening member states and the WHO to address existing health gaps in the face of contemporary challenges. Her goals include empowering member states to develop and implement innovative local solutions, particularly focusing on building equitable and resilient health systems. She also aims to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable groups within the region.

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During her acceptance speech at the WHO executive board meeting in Geneva, Wazed highlighted her top priorities. These include a strong emphasis on mental health and well-being, an often neglected area. Additionally, she is dedicated to promoting health equity, implementing specific interventions for women and children with a structured life-course approach, and leveraging technology for innovations in public health.

Promoting universal health coverage through the strengthening of health systems based on a primary healthcare approach is another key priority for Wazed. She also stressed the importance of emergency response and pandemic preparedness, advocating for comprehensive, whole-of-society, and multi-level planning linked to health system strengthening.

Wazed is committed to fostering collaboration and partnerships at the regional and multi-sectoral levels to address all determinants of health. Furthermore, she emphasized the need for monitoring and progress reporting to inform and improve strategies, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations such as indigenous peoples, refugees, and migrant populations affected by conflict, economic challenges, and environmental crises.

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A critical aspect of Wazed’s agenda is the prioritization of health sector resilience to climate and environmental change. She advocates for a focused approach to addressing the unique needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in health infrastructure planning, with the overarching goal of leaving no one behind.