KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 13

Former International Professionals of Multilateral Organisations, an association established seven years ago, has appealed to the Government of Nepal to aggressively campaign for the candidacy of Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya for the post of Regional Director at South-East Asia Regional Office of the World Health Organisation through appropriate diplomatic channels.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of FIPMO Bhai Raja Panday said, 'We are extremely glad and honoured that the Government of Nepal has nominated Dr Acharya for the post of Regional Director at WHO-SEARO.

Dr Acharya, with his PhD in Public Health, and over three decades of senior leadership experiences within WHO headquarters and field offices, would bring what is needed to carry out this function at this critical post-COVID pandemic time and rising health concerns in the region.'

According to FIPMO, several national and international media have mentioned that Nepal's candidate Dr Acharya has emerged as a clear favourite among international public health leaders. Many see this as a contest between a public health professional with decades of international experience in the health sector and a political appointee.

'Through your excellency, we would like to appeal to the Government of Nepal to aggressively campaign for the candidacy of Dr Acharya via appropriate diplomatic channels so that Nepal does not miss this important opportunity to lead a significant United Nations Organisation at the regional level,' reads the letter.

WHO-SEARO member states will meet in New Delhi next month to nominate the Organisation's next Regional Director.

The choice of candidate for this critical post will be based on voting behind closed doors by the organisation's 11-member countries, including India, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Timor Leste, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, DPR Korea and Maldives.

The decision will have major implications for health policies across the South-East Asia Region, home to a quarter of the world's population. Failure to choose a competent and experienced candidate based on strict criteria set out in WHO SEARO resolution for the WHO's regional office will result in not providing better health support to millions of lives in the region.

'We believe that this is the best chance for Nepali to lead an important UN regional office for which the government should not miss the opportunity to lobby and campaign as aggressively as possible. We as the Former International Professionals of Multilateral Organisations would like to urge the prime minister to give your personal attention to ensure that Nepal will do everything possible to win the election of Regional Director at WHO Southeast Asia that will be a source of pride for Nepal, government and professionals working in the multilateral system,' it reads.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 14, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.