Chikwe Ihekweazu, the founding director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has been appointed as the Acting Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus made the announcement on Tuesday during the 156th session of the WHO executive board in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ghebreyesus expressed confidence that the African region will be in “capable hands” under Ihekweazu’s leadership for the next four months, until a permanent regional director is appointed following the World Health Assembly.
Ihekweazu, a Nigerian epidemiologist and public health physician, replaces Matshidiso Moeti, who served as WHO’s Regional Director for Africa for a decade.
Moeti, a Botswana-based physician and public health expert, was the first woman to hold this position.
Ghebreyesus praised Moeti’s exceptional leadership and contributions, acknowledging her lasting legacy.
As Acting Regional Director, Ihekweazu will lead the WHO African office in addressing critical health issues across the continent, continuing efforts to strengthen healthcare systems, improve emergency preparedness, and enhance disease response strategies.
His appointment marks a transitional period for the WHO Africa region as the search for a permanent director continues.
Ihekweazu has a long career in infectious disease epidemiology and public health.
Before joining WHO in 2021, he was NCDC’s first Director-General from 2016 to 2021, where he played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has also served as WHO’s Assistant Director-General and Deputy Executive Director for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in Geneva.
With over 25 years of experience, Ihekweazu has worked in several public health organizations globally, including the South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the UK’s Health Protection Agency, and Germany’s Robert Koch Institute.
He was also part of WHO’s first mission to China during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020.
