Sweden appoints world’s first health ambassador

Sweden has appointed Anders Nordström as health ambassador, a unique role that will give him special responsibility for the country's global health efforts.
 
He will represent Sweden during dialogues with international organisations in the UN system, the EU and the regional development banks, when development-related health issues are on the agenda.
 
The newly created role aims to strengthen Sweden's “capacity and opportunities” in bilateral and multilateral negotiations and also in relation to the private sector and civil society.
 
"The appointment is an expression of the central role of health issues in Sweden's development cooperation," said minister for international development cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.

"I would like to see that we take a coherent approach to Sweden's total health aid to see how we can develop and strengthen it, with the objective of saving the lives of even more women and children."
 
In his new role Nordström will work closely with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and with the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the National Board of Health and Welfare, the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and the Swedish National Institute of Public Health.
 
A medical doctor by training, Nordström is aboard member of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), the GAVI Alliance and UNAIDS.