Former DOH chief named to WHO board

Former health secretary Alberto Romualdez has been named to the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Romualdez will sit in the 12-member board for three years. He will join representatives of Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

Romualdez was head of the Philippine delegation to the 54th World Health Assembly last month. After the assembly, the board held its 108th session in Geneva.

Members of the executive board are chosen in accordance with article 24 of the WHO constitution. WHO director Dr. Gro Harlem officially relayed to Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., concurrent foreign affairs secretary, the country’s participation.

Meanwhile, the Philippines was endorsed to the Industrial Development Board during the plenary meeting of the Asian Group of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna, Austria last June 1.

The group also endorsed Iran, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India, and Jordan. These country’s appointments will be confirmed at the 9th regular session of the UNIDO General Conference in December. –Aurea Calica