Dr David Nabarro concluded his brief visit to Dhaka on Sunday as part of his worldwide campaign. During his visit, he met with health minister Mohammed Nasim and other senior government officials. He also had discussions with a group of journalists, including bdnews24.com, at the British High Commission in Dhaka. The election for the new director-general of the WHO will take place in May during the annual general meeting, the World Health Assembly, where its 194 member states will convene in Geneva. The two other finalists competing for the position are former Ethiopian foreign minister and health minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and former Pakistan health minister Dr Sania Nishtar. Issues such as the recent global outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, challenges caused by climate change, an aging population, non-communicable diseases, and the lack of new drugs are some of the major concerns for the candidates in the election process. The WHO faced harsh criticism for its handling of the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014, with experts questioning the relevance of the UN body during that time. The outbreak in West Africa resulted in over 11,000 deaths. Dr. Navarro, who has been serving as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Ebola since September 2014, has been providing strategic and policy direction for the international response. In response to a question about why Bangladesh should vote for him, the British doctor stated that based on his previous experiences, he would be able to ensure that the WHO is effectively fulfilling its responsibilities. His familiarity with health and healthcare issues in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, stems from his work experiences in the region. His professional endeavors as a special envoy of the UN Secretary focusing on SDGs and climate change over the past two years are also applicable to Bangladesh. Expressing his affection for the country, he mentioned working there in 1982 with Save the Children and praised the significant accomplishments achieved in Bangladesh. He expressed his eagerness for Bangladesh to vote for him, believing that if they support him, it will garner attention from others. With over 30 years of experience in public health, nutrition, and development at various levels, including NGOs, universities, national governments, and the UN system, he has held significant positions such as Senior Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition. He was also involved in the response to the Ebola outbreak at the request of the UN Secretary General. After assuming the responsibility, he noticed a problem and with the help of everyone, they were able to assist WHO in getting back on track. It became apparent that WHO needed changes in order to detect potential outbreaks more quickly, respond effectively, and raise alarms more effectively. In the latter part of 2015, the Director General of WHO appointed him to lead a group to advise on reforming the organization to better assist countries in outbreak response. The advisory group made recommendations to enhance response capabilities, which motivated him to pursue the role of Director General. This is something he strongly believes in. David Nabarro. It is essential to have the World Health Organization (WHO) as there is no other organization that can effectively handle outbreaks. The speaker has experience dealing with avian influenza, SARS, and cholera, and is well-versed in outbreak management. They believe they have the expertise, courage, strategic skills, and management abilities to lead the WHO effectively. Their goal is to ensure the WHO is reliable and efficient during outbreaks. They have a strong track record in food, nutrition, infectious diseases, climate change, and sustainable development goals, and have previously raised funds and achieved results in various areas. They believe this experience is what the WHO needs. He stated that WHO, under his supervision, will be an organization that is completely transparent and open to scrutiny by everyone, as that is the best way to operate public services in the modern age. The process to select the next Director-General began on September 23rd of last year with the announcement of nominated candidates by member states. This was followed by interactions between member states and candidates on a password-protected web forum hosted on the WHO website. In November, a live forum took place where candidates presented their plans for the WHO Member States and answered questions about their candidacy. In January, the WHO's Executive Board created a shortlist of five candidates. The Board members conducted interviews with multiple candidates and ultimately selected three of them to be put to a final vote at the World Health Assembly in May. The new Director-General is scheduled to begin their term on July 1 of this year. The remaining candidates include individuals representing Africa, Asia, and Europe. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia received the highest number of votes from the executive members and is endorsed by the African Union. His campaign emphasizes his leadership skills and track record of achieving significant results in global health organizations and in guiding Ethiopia. He stated in his campaign vision that he imagines a world in which all individuals can live healthy and productive lives, regardless of their identity or location. Dr. Sania Nishtar from Pakistan made 10 pledges in her campaign addressing issues aimed at revitalizing the WHO. She emphasized the need for implementing reforms quickly, promoting transparency, establishing accountability, ensuring efficiency, and fostering a results-driven culture.