PHA-Exchange> WHO DG candidate's views (2)

[Aviva]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <info at peterpiot.org>


> Peter Piot M.D. Ph.D.
> Executive Director, Joint United Nations Programme on
> HIV/AIDS  & Under Secretary-General of the United Nations
> ***********************************************
> 
> Vision statement on priorities and strategies
> 
> The principles and priorities that underpin Dr. Piot's
> candidature
> *******************************************************************
> 
> 1-Health as a fundamental human right, enshrined in
> the constitution of the WHO, central to sustainable
> development and human security; and a public
> responsibility. 
>  
> Health is an end in itself.  The central role of
> health in poverty alleviation, and social and economic
> development has been firmly documented in recent
> years.  While governments are ultimately responsible
> for the state of their people's health, the
> international community has a vital role to play in
> creating a global policy and financial environment,
> which can improve the equity and quality of health
> outcomes.  Dr. Piot will continue to position WHO
> within this context.
> 
> 2-Scientific and technical excellence as the basis for
> policy guidance and country work. 
> 
> Dr. Piot's background as a scientific researcher leads
> him to pay particular attention to the central
> importance of independent evidence, and the highest
> levels of scientific rigour.  At the same time, policy
> advice needs to be based on evidence and practices of
> what works in the real world, including in resource
> poor settings.   WHO needs to provide information that
> helps governments and their people make and measure,
> real progress.   Dr. Piot will continue to strengthen
> the evidence base, ensuring that WHO's Member States
> contribute to the development and application of
> normative standard setting functions. 
> 
> 3- An organization relevant for all Member States. 
> 
> WHO exists to serve all its Member States. While
> maintaining the focus of its work on the health and
> development agenda of developing countries, WHO needs
> to contribute to the Organisation for Economic
> Cooperation and Development and middle income
> countries, and be relevant to the emerging health
> challenges that any face.  Dr. Piot will ensure that
> WHO is effectively steered by its governing bodies and
> reflects regional, social, economic and cultural
> specificity.  
> 
> 4-People matter 
> 
> People are at the heart of WHO's work.  It is the
> people we serve, those who represent civil society,
> those who work with and for WHO, that must shape the
> values and work of the organization.
> 
> 
> Strategic areas for policy renewal
> **********************************
> 
> 1 WHO: an effective actor at country level  
> 
> Dr. Piot will build on WHO's Country Focus Initiative,
> ensure that the work is needs-driven and supports the
> achievement of meaningful health outcomes at country
> level. The emphasis will be on:
> * implementing national health policy; 
> * building capacity; 
> * brokering technical support; 
> * ensuring the inclusion of health in mainstream
> development instruments; and,
> * building consensus and cooperation between all
> development partners.
> 
> This agenda requires a more strategic use of resources
> at country level. It will also include enabling
> national officials and experts to participate more
> effectively in global and regional processes.
> 
> 2 Strengthening health systems: the key to delivering
> health 
> 
> Finding the balance between catalyzing initiatives and
> long term sustainable development will be the hallmark
> of the WHO agenda.  Effective systems are the key to
> achievement of health outcomes and encompass public,
> private and voluntary providers. Dr. Piot will
> reinvigorate the health systems development agenda,
> establishing an effective balance between disease
> control and health systems strengthening.  While
> disease-specific initiatives are critical, their
> ability to drive the health systems development
> agenda, contribute to basic health infrastructure,
> delivery capacity and equitable access to health
> services, are limited. Dr. Piot will focus on the key
> challenge of handling the balance between preventing
> risk and vulnerability/providing treatment and care - 
> for both communicable and non-communicable diseases -
> and building sustainable systems. 
> 
> 3 Energizing and supporting work with broader health
> constituencies, civil society, the corporate sector
> and private foundations 
> 
> The prime client of WHO remains Member States.  Dr.
> Piot will work to support the public sector's capacity
> to address the health needs of people.  However,
> international health and national initiatives are
> characterized by a number of new and emerging actors. 
> More organizations can capitalize on the potential
> that these actors offer. Dr. Piot will strengthen the
> capacity of WHO to host debate among all actors and to
> broker, manage and sustain partnerships, including in
> the development of international public goods.
> 
> 4 Bridging the divide: research and development in a
> globalizing world 
> 
> The lack of equity in research investment is well
> understood, but strategies for addressing it have made
> little progress.  The agenda includes: neglected areas
> in the development of drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and
> other public goods; health consequences of climate
> change; cutting edge scientific developments,
> particularly in relation to genomics and other aspects
> of biotechnology.  These issues will become
> increasingly pressing in the next decade and Dr. Piot
> will position WHO to provide ethical and effective
> leadership of the international architecture in this
> area. 
> 
> 5 Health in an unstable world: a neglected agenda 
> 
> The global context of WHO is rapidly changing.  Many
> countries face conflict, food shortages and internal
> instability, but most development models are based on
> stable situations.  New threats from terrorism, and
> the hazards of biochemical weapons are increasingly
> real.  Migration on an unprecedented scale presents
> unique challenges to health systems.  Sound normative
> work, effective surveillance and early warning systems
> and cooperation between national and international
> actors to provide rapid technical advice must become
> part of WHO's agenda.
> 
> 6 Working towards the Millennium Development Goals
> (MDGs)   
> 
> Achieving the MDGs  depends substantially on the
> health and well-being of the world's poorest people.
> Health is central to meeting the goals established for
> maternal health, child mortality, HIV/AIDS and other
> diseases, as well as education and poverty. Dr. Piot
> will position WHO to fully play its part, alongside
> its national and international partners, in achieving
> the MDGs and in a manner which contributes to
> sustainable development. 
> 
> 7 Strengthening WHO:  consolidation, continuity and
> accountability  
> 
> WHO  needs stability while  continuing the process of
> reform in order to consolidate and further improve
> upon achievements. In pursuit of this principle, Dr.
> Piot will build on the current reform process. This
> work will capitalize upon the strengths of all
> components of the Organization, in particular, the
> regional offices, and involve determined efforts to
> increase responsiveness, transparency and
> accountability to Member States. 
>   
> ***
> 
> Dr. Piot has a proven track record of accomplishment,
> and a combination of qualities that uniquely qualify
> him to lead the World Health Organization.  Dr. Piot
> is:
> 
> * A global leader in health, who has worked with all
> regions in the world.
> * An outstanding researcher and physician with years
> of service to developing countries.
> * A results-oriented, collaborative leader who is able
> to define realistic objectives, then catalyze and
> manage change. 
> * An effective advocate who has the proven ability to
> engage and work with world leaders and a wide range of
> constituencies.
> * Highly knowledgeable about the WHO and the UN
> system, and how to make them work.
> * An effective communicator on global health issues.
> 
> The criteria:
> ***********
> 1-Strong technical and public health background and
> extensive experience in international health
> ***********
> Dr. Piot is a public health expert with global
> experience, and strong personal commitment 
> 
> * Dr. Piot is a 53-year-old physician (M.D.) and
> microbiologist (Ph.D.) trained in Belgium and the
> United States and has published 15 books and over 500
> scientific articles.
> * In 1976, Dr. Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in
> Zaire.
> * For nearly twenty years, Dr. Piot combined an
> impressive academic career with public health and
> research work in several African countries.
> * Dr. Piot has extensive first-hand experience working
> in AIDS, tuberculosis, viral hemorrhagic fever and
> other infectious diseases, and in areas such as
> women's and children's health, laboratory services and
> medical education.
> * He has been centrally involved in the development of
> international public health policy; and has advised
> numerous Ministries of Health on national policies in
> all regions.
> * Dr. Piot's work has consistently combined research
> with community work in impoverished areas heavily
> affected by disease.  
> * Dr. Piot was Professor of microbiology and public
> health at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in
> Antwerp, the University of Nairobi and the Free
> University of Brussels.
> * He is the recipient of scientific, civil awards and
> honours, from a variety of countries.  Dr. Piot is a
> member of the National Academy of Sciences (Institute
> of Medicine) of the USA, the Royal Academy of Medicine
> of Belgium, and the Royal College of Physicians of
> London.
> 
> 
> 2-Competency in organisational management
> **********
> Dr. Piot has demonstrated that he is a
> results-oriented manager, able to define realistic
> objectives and then catalyse and manage change 
> 
> * In 1995, Dr. Piot established the new Joint United
> Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), bringing
> together 8 United Nations Systems Organisations
> including WHO and the World Bank - an unprecedented
> collaboration within the multilateral system.
> * The recent 5 year external evaluation of UNAIDS
> concluded that, under Dr. Piot's leadership, the
> Programme established "what never existed before the
> Programme was formed, a clear global mandate with
> objectives that can be used to hold international
> leaders to account".  The evaluation went on to say
> that, during Dr. Piot's tenure, UNAIDS "established
> itself as a leader in tackling HIV/AIDS, and a centre
> of knowledge about the disease."
> * Dr. Piot has demonstrated his ability to attract
> highly-qualified staff and expertise from all regions
> of the world, to inspire and manage a
> culturally-diverse organization.
> * Dr. Piot has extensive experience working with
> multilateral governance, including in the UNAIDS
> Programme Coordinating Board, WHO regional committees,
> the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social
> Council of the UN, the UN Security Council, the World
> Health Assembly and The Global Fund to fight AIDS,
> Tuberculosis and Malaria. 
> 
> 3-Proven historical evidence for public health
> leadership
> **********
> Dr. Piot has a longstanding track record in public
> health leadership with intimate knowledge of the
> capacities and challenges faced by the health sector
> in each region 
> 
> * His global leadership experience includes political
> and public health contacts at the highest level on
> every continent. 
> * Dr. Piot has demonstrated he is a visionary leader
> who can catalyse change and build consensus on
> difficult public health issues.
> * He was the driving force behind the first Special
> Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to a health
> issue in June 2001, resulting in a Declaration of
> Commitment unanimously approved by all Member States. 
> * Dr. Piot has been extensively engaged in political
> and health initiatives in all regions.
> * Under Dr. Piot's leadership, UNAIDS has become a
> successful global programme across the complex UN
> system.
> * A powerful communicator in several languages and
> across many cultures, Dr. Piot understands the impact
> of the media on advocacy and public health, and
> regularly places HIV/AIDS on the front pages around
> the world.
> 
> 4-A strong commitment to the work of WHO 
> **********
> Dr. Piot is highly knowledgeable about the work of WHO
> and the UN system, and knows how to make them work
> effectively
> 
> * Dr. Piot is fully committed to the vision and ideals
> of the constitution of WHO and the UN, and knows how
> to overcome obstacles to action.
> * He has worked within WHO (1992-94) as an Associate
> Director and Director in its Global Programme on AIDS
> and has participated in the World Health Assembly, the
> Executive Board meetings, and Regional Committee
> meetings for the last 10 years. 
> * During his leadership of UNAIDS, Dr. Piot has
> demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration with
> WHO at country level, and on major initiatives such as
> the joint HIV vaccine unit and access to HIV
> treatment. 
> 
> 5-Sensitiveness to cultural, social and political
> differences  
> **********
> Dr. Piot has outstanding competencies in managing
> cultural, social and political differences, and
> turning them into assets.  He is an effective advocate
> who has the proven ability to work with world leaders
> and a wide range of constituencies
> 
> * Dr. Piot has worked effectively in all parts of the
> world, and regularly visits and advises Ministers of
> Health and Heads of State.
> * He has been working in multi-cultural environments
> throughout his professional life.
> * As head of UNAIDS he has been at the forefront of
> difficult debates on international public health and
> the allocation of public resources and worked with a
> diversity of values and sensitivities found between
> and within countries.
> * He has been centrally involved in assisting
> development of public health policy in numerous
> countries across the world.
> * Dr. Piot has longstanding, strong, and productive
> relationships with members of affected communities,
> NGOs and community groups, as well as with the
> not-for-profit and commercial sectors, and private
> foundations.
> 
> 6-Sufficient skills in at least one of the official
> and working languages of the 
> Executive Board and the Health Assembly
> **********
> * Dr. Piot is fluent in French and English. He also
> speaks Dutch (his mother tongue) and understands
> Spanish.   He is an excellent communicator across many
> cultures.
>