WHO appoints two regional directors

The World Health Organization (WHO) has named two regional directors.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh (top right) is appointed the new WHO regional director for South East Asia and Dr Shin Young-soo (bottom right) is re-appointed WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.

Dr Khetrapal Singh, who takes up her new role on February 1, was most recently deputy regional director for the South-East Asia.

She succeeds Dr Samlee Plianbangchang who spent 10 years in charge of the WHO's operations in South East Asia.

Dr Khetrapal Singh has an extensive career in health and public affairs in Asia. This includes time as health secretary of the Punjab region in India.

She then moved to the health, population and nutrition department of the World Bank before joining WHO in 1998 as executive director in director-general Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland's cabinet in Geneva.

“We will focus on promoting universal health coverage, robust health systems and strengthening emergency risk management in South East Asia,” said Khetrapal Singh. “I am committed to an excellence pursuing, responsive and accountable WHO in the region."

Dr Shin was originally appointed regional director for the Western Pacific in 2009, having previously served with the government of South Korea in the ministry of health and welfare.

During his first four-year term the Western Pacific region achieved several accomplishments including reducing levels of measles and hepatitis B and improving preparedness for public health emergencies.