ST. GEORGE'S, GRENADA, MARCH 29, 2017 - GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICE (GIS): - Grenada’s Minister of Health, Social Security and International Business, has described a meeting with Pakistan’s former Health Minister Dr. Sania Nishtar as very productive.

Hon. Steele met with Dr. Nishtar earlier this week in Grenada, during her visit to the island, to garner support for her election as the next Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Steele discussions were fruitful and mainly about how Grenada can further co-operate and work with the (WHO) on challenges facing developing countries.

It’s no secret that since coming to office, the present administration has taken steps to pay contributions owed to the (WHO) rather than being in default and given Grenada’s up-to-date status, it clears the way to greater pathways and opportunities.  

 GIS has learnt that given Grenada’s public health achievements and interactions with the (PAHO/WHO) and other international organization at various levels Dr. Nishtar felt it was crucial to hold discussions with the Health Minister who himself has led several regional and international health delegations and discussions at the international level.

The World Health Organization announced Wednesday that three finalists are in the running to become the next director-general of the global health agency.

Dr. Nishtar, 53, is among two other nominees, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, 51, of Ethiopia and Dr. David Nabarro, 67, of Britain who were selected as finalists in the competition to replace Dr. Margaret Chan, whose second term of office ends June 30.

The election of the global health agency’s eighth director-general will take place in May when its 194 member states convene in Geneva for the WHO’s annual general meeting, the World Health Assembly.