By Muhammad Amaan
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the appointment of Dr Pavel Ursu as the new WHO Representative to Nigeria.
This follows the formal presentation of Dr Ursu’s credentials to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The United Nations health agency made the announcement in a press statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday.
Dr Ursu succeeds Dr Kazadi Mulombo, who now serves as the Director, Office of the Regional Director, WHO African Region, and Acting WHO Representative to Guinea-Bissau.
Dr Mulombo held the position of WHO Country Representative to Nigeria for five years, during which he provided significant leadership in advancing public health initiatives.
Before Ursu’s appointment, Dr Alex Gasasira served as the WHO Representative ad interim to Nigeria, ensuring continuity of the organization’s operations and engagement with national stakeholders.
In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said, “We welcome Dr Ursu to Nigeria and look forward to deepening our collaboration with WHO under his leadership.”
Tuggar emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call for Nigeria, particularly in the area of vaccine operations.
He noted that the country is determined not to relive the vulnerabilities exposed during the pandemic and is therefore committed to strengthening local manufacturing of health products.
“Health is not just a sector; it is a foundation for prosperity. A healthy population is empowered to seek opportunities and rise out of poverty,” Tuggar stated.
He highlighted that this strategic focus aligns with both pillars of the Ministry’s mandate—national development and international diplomacy—and underscored the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s health agenda.
In his speech, Ursu reaffirmed WHO’s deep respect for Nigeria’s leadership in global health.
He highlighted Nigeria’s achievements, including the successful certification of wild poliovirus eradication and the recent integrated immunisation campaign targeting over 106 million children.
Dr Ursu noted that WHO’s largest country office in Africa is located in Nigeria, reflecting the country’s strategic importance and the organization’s shared ambitions.
He outlined six key pillars for deepened cooperation between WHO and the Federal Government, which include domestic health financing; Primary Health Care and UHC; emergency preparedness and health security; data and digital transformation; local manufacturing and innovation; and health diplomacy and multisectoral engagement.
“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,” Ursu stated.
Ursu brings over two decades of service with WHO, spanning national and international assignments. He holds dual citizenship of Romania/EU and Moldova.
Since May 2020, he has served as Director of the Department of Delivery for Impact at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, where he led strategic initiatives to strengthen health systems and drive sustainable development.
His previous WHO country-level leadership roles include WHO Representative in Tajikistan (2010–2015), WHO Representative in Türkiye (2015–2020), where he received the WHO Director-General’s Award for leadership during the Syrian refugee crisis—Acting WHO Representative in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and Head of the WHO Country Office in Moldova.
Dr Ursu is a physician with a Master of Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master’s degree in Health Services Management, and a Diploma in High Impact Leadership from the University of Cambridge.
“I am honoured to serve as WHO Representative to Nigeria and look forward to working closely with national authorities, development partners, and communities to advance health for all,” Ursu added.
