Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi was nominated as the next Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region during a Special Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Geneva ahead of the World Health Assembly.
Professor Janabi’s nomination will be submitted for appointment by the 157th session of the WHO Executive Board, which takes place from 28 - 29 May 2025 in Geneva The newly appointed Regional Director will take office thereafter for a fiveyear term and be eligible for reappointment once
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Janabi expressed commitment to advancing health of the people of the region.
“Thank you for your trust in me. I will not let you down. Your support underscores our collective resolve to build a healthier stronger and more united Africa,” said Professor Janabi. “As we face challenges ranging from infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases to climate change and limited health financing, we must harness African resilience and unity ”
In response to the unprecedented challenges faced by our organization, the Staff Development and Learning (SDL) team has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at supporting our staff's career development Recognizing the importance of continuous growth and adaptation, we have focused on providing resources and opportunities that empower our staff to thrive in their roles and advance their careers
Our initiatives have been designed to address the unique needs of our workforce during this period, ensuring that every staff member has access to the tools and support necessary for their professional development. From comprehensive training programs to personalized coaching sessions, we have prioritized creating a supportive and enriching environment for all.
Click on the link below for more information https://worldhealthorg.sharepoint.com/sites/AFROOrientation/SitePages/transition.aspx For further details, contact: Nene Mariama Bah, Email: bahne@who.int, tel: +47 241 39205
As WHO in the African Region prepares to transition from the Global Management System (GSM) to the new Business Management System (BMS), staff are getting hands-on experience through User Experience Labs, a key initiative to ensure confident, informed adoption of this transformative platform.
So far, labs have been successfully launched in the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Niger and South Africa. Staff have tested key features such as profile updates and leave requests and have navigated the organizational chart These interactive sessions have offered them first-hand experience of how BMS will streamline everyday tasks and enhance operational efficiency
Christelle Nabami, a participant from Kinshasa, DRC, shared: “It’s surprisingly user-friendly and straightforward, and navigation is so simple I didn’t need much help going through the different steps I’m already very confident to use the platform Thankfully, the mobile access means we’re no longer tied to our desks.”
Acting WHO Representative in Niger, Dr Casimir Manengu, also expressed his enthusiasm, highlighting the benefits of more flexible processes and increased transparency, through simplified access to information for all.
Built to replace GSM and unify WHO’s core administrative operations, BMS integrates critical functions such as programme management, human capital, finance, procurement, travel, expenses, and meeting and event management Its user-friendly design and mobile compatibility allow staff to perform tasks efficiently, from anywhere
While the full rollout is planned across the African Region, the next phase of User Experience Labs will soon launch in Algeria, Comoros, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Senegal and
Togo. The sessions are designed to offer hands-on training, clarify system features, and answer staff questions in real time.
According to Joseph Ngom, BMS Regional Coordinator: “The User Experience Labs are not just a discovery space. They are an essential part of our change management strategy. They give staff the chance to engage with the platform, build confidence, and see how BMS can make their day-today work simpler, faster and more effective ”
In parallel, the rollout of the warehousing and supply chain module is also gaining ground An additional five countries are now transitioning to this system, following training that ends on 19 May This brings to 14 the total number of countries that are actively benefiting from the cost and time savings associated with BMS
Preparatory activities are ongoing to ensure that the last four remaining country offices in the region are onboarded from June 2025. This growing momentum reflects the Organization’s commitment to modernizing operations, and empowering staff with better tools and technologies.
Another BMS feature that will transform meeting and event organisation, and management is Cvent This market-leading, cloud-based event management platform offers a variety of tools to help event organizers plan events, engage attendees, accept online registrations and improve process efficiency The Cvent training team conducted a Cvent Go-live for meetings and events in early May, with HQ-initiated meetings now being used as a pilot
“The next step will involve implementation across all WHO regions Our team is ready, following tests performed with the support of colleagues from Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa and the Regional Office,” said Haoua Sawadogo, regional focal point for meetings and events.
The BMS transformation is more than just a technical upgrade. It represents a shift in how WHO AFRO operates collaborates and delivers results Through early engagement and direct staff input
Thesolarsystemalsosupportspreviouslyunderpoweredfacilities,likethestaffgym.With reliableelectricity,staffareactivelyusinggymequipment,promotingphysicalfitnessand reducingtheirriskofnoncommunicablediseases.“Wearelivingourvalues,investinginstaff health andleadingbyexample”Motswagoleadded
“This is a major achievement for Eritrea and for the government,” said Dr Saleh Mohammed, head of the National Health Laboratory. “The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of genomic surveillance. This training is a step towards fulfilling a regional 10-year strategy (2022–2032) to enhance Africa’s genomics capacity, with Eritrea now part of that journey.”
Genomic sequencing plays a vital role in understanding how pathogens evolve, particularly during outbreaks It allows public health teams to detect variants, track transmission patterns, and tailor interventions based on real-time data Bioinformatics, the digital backbone of the field, uses complex algorithms to make sense of vast amounts of genetic information, enabling a more targeted, evidence-based response
Dr Nonso Ejiofor, WHO Representative to Eritrea, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative: “Genomic surveillance has become a cornerstone of global public health. The Ministry of Health’s commitment, with support from WHO and partners, demonstrates Eritrea’s readiness to be better prepared for health emergencies. The stronger the systems, the faster and more effective the response.”
Although genomic sequencing has become a priority across Africa, many countries still lack the infrastructure and trained personnel to conduct this work WHO, through its Regional Office for Africa, has been working to bridge this gap by fostering partnerships with established sequencing centres, and offering mentorships to build sustainable capacity
The timing is critical Recent outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg Virus Disease have highlighted the importance of early detection and genomic intelligence to pandemic preparedness Yet, until now, much of this work has been restricted to central laboratories in capital cities The vision is for every African country, including Eritrea, to develop decentralized, resilient genomic surveillance systems. WHO will continue supporting Eritrea with technical guidance, equipment upgrades and follow-up training. The goal is to help the country transition from capacity-building to operational readiness, ensuring that genomic sequencing becomes a core part of its public health infrastructure.
