DHAKA, Feb 1, 2024 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Professor Dr Samanta Lal Sen today extended his greetings to Saima Wazed for taking charge of World Health Organization's Regional Office for South-East Asia (WHOSEARO) as regional director.
 
In a message of greetings, the health minister said "Saima Wazed is the first from Bangladesh and the second woman regional director of WHO South-East Asia Region". 
 
Samanta said, "Saima Wazed is widely known globally as an autism expert, and she is a very experienced person in the field of world health." 
 
"Saima Wazed joined the office of WHO's regional director for South East Asia today ... this is a great honor and milestone achievement for us," he added. 
 
 The newly elected Regional Director for South-East Asia of World Health Organization (WHO) Saima Wazed, a global mental health expert, took office for the next five years today. 
 
The member states voted to nominate Wazed to the post during a meeting at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the South-East Asia Region on January 1, 2024.
 
Later, her nomination was approved during the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board held on January 22-27 in Geneva, Switzerland, according to WHO sources.
 
Saima Wazed replaced Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the outgoing RD of South-East Asia Region of WHO. 
 
Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste took part in the voting in New Delhi. 
 
Wazed, a renowned autism expert, had secured eight votes. Another candidate, Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya, nominated by Nepal, received two votes. 
 
She is the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and is globally known for her role as a mental health expert-particularly autism. She is an advisor to the WHO's director-general for mental health.
 
The health ministry sources said the South East Asia Regional Organization (SEARO) is one of the six regions of WHO with its headquarters in New Delhi.
 
It comprises 11 countries -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.