The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has announced the appointment of Ugandan Winnie Byanyima, as the next executive director of UNAids. Her appointment followed “an open and wide-ranging search”, UN chief Antonio Guterres said. Winnie Byanyima heads UK charity Oxfam.
“Ms Byanyima brings a wealth of experience and commitment in harnessing the power of governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector and civil society to end the Aids epidemic around the world,” UNAids said in a statement.
Her appointment followed “an open and wide-ranging search”, UN chief Antonio Guterres said.
A former MP and engineer by training, Ms Byanyima succeeds Michel Sidibé, who has been appointed Mali’s health minister.
“I am honoured to be joining UNAids as the executive director at such a critical time in the response to HIV,” Ms Byanyima said in a statement.
“The end of Aids as a public health threat by 2030 is a goal that is within the world’s reach, but I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead,”she added.
Ms Byanyima, 60, tweeted that she embraces the role with “humility, passion and faith”:
An honour 2 be asked 2 lead the UN & global HIV response! I embrace the role with humility, passion & faith that we can end this pandemic by 2030. I look fwd to joining @UNAIDS team & working closely with co-sponsors & partners 2 remove barriers to prevention, treatment & care https://t.co/i4GPSUzObu
— Winnie Byanyima (@Winnie_Byanyima) August 15, 2019