MANILA — The Philippine government has nominated Dr. Susan Pineda Mercado, Special Envoy of the President for Global Health Initiatives, as the next regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO).
WHO is an international organization consisting of 194 member states, 37 of which are in the Western Pacific region.
A regional director of the WPRO is expected to seek practical solutions to public health issues in the Philippines and the Western Pacific with a combined population of 1.9 billion people.
The new WPRO chief will be elected at the next session of its Regional Committee in Manila this October 2018.
In announcing the nomination on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) hailed Mercado as “eminently qualified” to spearhead the organization’s initiatives.
DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Mercado exemplifies the qualities of a good regional director with her professional competence, proven track record, and commitment to a more proactive WHO in the Western Pacific.
“With her efficient work ethic and heart for public service, we are convinced that she will make the WHO a truly responsive organization in these complex times,” he said.
“Dr. Mercado believes that the best role for WHO in the Western Pacific is to be of service to the people of the region and collective needs of the Member States, in order to truly deliver on the promise organizations goal of being Healthy Together, Today,” he added.
Mercado, whose service at the WHO stretches for more than 15 years, formerly held a WPRO post as the Director for Non-Communicable Diseases and Health through the Life-Course; and as WPRO’s Regional Adviser for Health Promotion.
Mercado, who had also served as Undersecretary and Chief of Staff of the Department of Health, graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a degree in AB Philosophy.
She obtained her Doctor of Medicine and Masters in Public Health degrees from the same university. (PNA)
