WHO appoints Abdourahmane Diallo to lead Kenya country office

The World Health organization has appointed Dr Abdourahmane Diallo to lead the Kenya Country Office.

Diallo who is the immediate CEO for the United Nations-hosted Roll Back Malaria Partnership based in Switzerland takes over from Dr Rudi Eggers whose term came to an end.

He previously served as a Minister of Health and Advisor to the President of Guinea from 2016 to 2019, a period where the country was dealing with the Ebola crisis.

Diallo has led the complex response and subsequent rebuilding of the national health system.

He also served as Country Director for the US President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funded Supply Chain Management System project in Tanzania.

He has vast experience and strong leadership skills in international development and public health, having led programmes in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.

Speaking while meeting Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday, Diallo noted that he looks forward to working closely with his office and his team to support Kenya, adding that he had had great opportunities to work in Kenya through various health projects including those under USAID.

“I am excited to be in Kenya and to have the opportunity to work here again with health colleagues. You can count on my full support and availability as often as you need it,” he said.

Diallo is a medical doctor and also holds a Master’s degree in International Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University and was most recently, the CEO of RBM Partnership to End Malaria (Rollback Malaria).

“We count ourselves very lucky to have Dr Diallo who has such a wealth of experience that will greatly benefit Kenya,” the UN Resident Coordinator Dr Stephen Jackson said.

Kagwe expressed pleasure to receive the official to the country saying he was the right fit for the job and would complement Kenya’s health agenda for the present and the future.

“We are happy that you know Kenya well and have essential experience because of your earlier assignments as a former health minister and as a technical expert and leader of Rollback Malaria,” the CS said.

Kagwe added that Kenya was looking at both national and regional concerns in health.