By Fatima Saka
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the appointment of Dr. Pavel Ursu as its new Country Representative to Nigeria, marking a new chapter in the organization’s partnership with the Federal Government to advance national and global health goals.
Dr. Ursu formally presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Welcoming him, Ambassador Tuggar commended WHO’s continued collaboration with Nigeria and expressed optimism that Dr. Ursu’s tenure would deepen cooperation in critical health areas.
“We welcome Dr. Ursu to Nigeria and look forward to strengthening our partnership with WHO under his leadership,” Tuggar said.
The Minister emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic had reshaped Nigeria’s approach to public health, highlighting the urgent need to bolster vaccine production and local health manufacturing capacity.
“Health is not just a sector—it is a foundation for prosperity,” Tuggar stated. “A healthy population is empowered to seek opportunities and rise out of poverty.”
He noted that Nigeria’s current focus on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), health security, and health diplomacy aligns with WHO’s global agenda and the Ministry’s twin mandate of national development and international engagement.
In his remarks, Dr. Ursu conveyed the greetings of WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to Nigeria’s health priorities.
He praised Nigeria’s remarkable achievements, including the eradication of the wild poliovirus and the recent integrated immunization campaign that reached more than 106 million children.
“Nigeria’s strength lies in its people, innovation, and resolve to reform. WHO will focus on ensuring our cooperation translates into measurable improvements in people’s lives,” he said.
Dr. Ursu outlined six key pillars for deepened cooperation between WHO and Nigeria: Domestic Health Financing and Sustainability – expanding fiscal space for health and promoting results-based spending.
Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage – accelerating equitable access to quality services nationwide.
Emergency Preparedness and Health Security – enhancing resilience against epidemics and climate-related shocks.
Data and Digital Transformation – promoting evidence-based decision-making and digital innovation.
5. Local Manufacturing and Innovation – supporting Nigeria’s emergence as a vaccine and medical technology hub.
Health Diplomacy and Multisectoral Engagement – amplifying Nigeria’s influence in global health governance.
Dr. Ursu brings more than two decades of experience with WHO, serving in multiple leadership roles across Europe and Central Asia. He most recently served as Director of the Department of Delivery for Impact at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, where he led strategic initiatives to strengthen health systems worldwide.
His country-level experience includes serving as WHO Representative in Tajikistan and Turkiye—where he earned the WHO Director-General’s Award for his leadership during the Syrian refugee crisis—as well as in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova.
A physician by training, Dr. Ursu holds advanced degrees from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Cambridge, among others.
Dr. Ursu’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen primary health care, combat infectious and noncommunicable diseases, improve maternal and child health, and enhance emergency preparedness.
“I am honoured to serve as WHO Representative to Nigeria and look forward to working closely with government, partners, and communities to advance health for all,” Dr. Ursu said.
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