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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus—a Global Fund for the health MDGs
Perspectives
Profile Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus—a Global Fund for the health MDGs As a young man, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister for Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, was “fully cognisant of the needless suffering and deaths” caused by malaria. His belief that “every effort to improve understanding about the nature and pattern of this disease in our country will have a significant impact on overall efforts to improve the health of our people”, led him from notable research on the effects of dam construction on malaria transmission to become the country’s Minister for Health in 2005. The international reach of his work expanded in July, 2009, when he was elected Board Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for a 2-year term. On his appointment, Ernest Loevinsohn, the new Global Fund Vice Chair told The Lancet that Minister Tedros’ “combination of diplomacy and drive are going to be good for the Global Fund”. Loevinsohn recalls working with him in the early days of rolling out insecticide-treated bednets: “I’ve seen how he likes to build coalitions to address problems. Where there were obstacles, he looked for creative ways to strengthen the health system and get the services delivered.” Now, resource mobilisation is a top priority for the Global Fund, which is targeting traditional donors—with more than US$1 billion pledged for 2010 by US President Obama early this year—and pursuing “creative new fundraising schemes”, says Minister Tedros. The test will be the investment pledged at this year’s replenishment in October for 2011–13. The emphasis during the forthcoming talks preceding replenishment will be the “value for money” of investing in the agency. Minister Tedros cites the costeffectiveness of the Global Fund and the efficiency gains already made at every level. With a strong belief that “it is time for implementing countries and constituencies to be at the forefront of our scaled-up resource mobilisation effort”, the first round of proposals approved by the Board under Minister Tedros’ chairmanship emphasise strengthening health systems at the community level. In an extraordinary step for the Global Fund, Minister Tedros is leading discussions about how to enhance contributions to child and maternal health, building on his firm belief in an “integrated health-system-strengthening approach”. To this end, he is championing “a bold new proposal to broaden the Global Fund’s mandate and consolidate it into a fully financed Global Fund for the Health MDGs [Millennium Development Goals]”. Minister Tedros told The Lancet: “Simply put, I know of no other development finance model as effective as the Global Fund. We must, therefore, do all we can to ensure that it continues to succeed in the years to come. I believe donors www.thelancet.com Vol 375 April 24, 2010
are well aware of the Global Fund’s impact to date and are already listening to our fervent call that now is the time to boost and sustain their investments in this unique development instrument that stands to bring about a lasting and transformative change of our world as whole.” Hareya Fassil, international affairs advisor at the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, recalls that Minister Tedros was “a household name at the Global Fund Secretariat” where she worked in 2007. Under Tedros’ leadership as Minister of Health, Ethiopia was regularly cited at the Global Fund as an exemplary high-performing country. Ethiopia was also the first to sign a country compact with the International Health Partnership. Fassil remembers thinking “he sounded too good to be true, but when I finally met him, I was simply awestruck by his humility and openness”. Fassil now knows Minister Tedros to be “modest to a fault”, yet with “a highly compelling ‘it can be done—we will find a way’ attitude”. After graduating in biology from the University of Asmara in 1986, Tedros did research on malaria and received his PhD in community health from the University of Nottingham, UK, in 2000. Subsequent national and global posts, including the chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, found him using his malaria expertise and widening his focus to other diseases and health systems overall. His experience at the Ministry of Health and of Ethiopia’s representation in global health initiatives afford him valuable insights that he brings to bear on challenges facing the Global Fund. Minister Tedros has been leading Ethiopia through its ongoing radical sector-wide health reform, and is now seeing implementation of the main building blocks of an effective health system. Minister Tedros acknowledges that he takes little time off work except to read, seeking out books that focus on issues and subjects that he is contemplating or learning from books that document the real life experiences of people from all walks of life. In his home country, he is sustained by the results of his work: “the prospects of making a real difference in the lives of our people and the development of our country is worth every effort”. Globally, he emphasises that continued unified action is indispensable. “The creation and gains made by the Global Fund have been precisely because the world came together as one to act decisively on health. Now more than ever, our continued unity and steadfast collective commitment to the Global Fund’s crucial mission will be absolutely key to its continued success.”
Kelly Morris [email protected]
1429
Profile Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus—a Global Fund for the health MDGs As a young man, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister for Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, was “fully cognisant of the needless suffering and deaths” caused by malaria. His belief that “every effort to improve understanding about the nature and pattern of this disease in our country will have a significant impact on overall efforts to improve the health of our people”, led him from notable research on the effects of dam construction on malaria transmission to become the country’s Minister for Health in 2005. The international reach of his work expanded in July, 2009, when he was elected Board Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for a 2-year term. On his appointment, Ernest Loevinsohn, the new Global Fund Vice Chair told The Lancet that Minister Tedros’ “combination of diplomacy and drive are going to be good for the Global Fund”. Loevinsohn recalls working with him in the early days of rolling out insecticide-treated bednets: “I’ve seen how he likes to build coalitions to address problems. Where there were obstacles, he looked for creative ways to strengthen the health system and get the services delivered.” Now, resource mobilisation is a top priority for the Global Fund, which is targeting traditional donors—with more than US$1 billion pledged for 2010 by US President Obama early this year—and pursuing “creative new fundraising schemes”, says Minister Tedros. The test will be the investment pledged at this year’s replenishment in October for 2011–13. The emphasis during the forthcoming talks preceding replenishment will be the “value for money” of investing in the agency. Minister Tedros cites the costeffectiveness of the Global Fund and the efficiency gains already made at every level. With a strong belief that “it is time for implementing countries and constituencies to be at the forefront of our scaled-up resource mobilisation effort”, the first round of proposals approved by the Board under Minister Tedros’ chairmanship emphasise strengthening health systems at the community level. In an extraordinary step for the Global Fund, Minister Tedros is leading discussions about how to enhance contributions to child and maternal health, building on his firm belief in an “integrated health-system-strengthening approach”. To this end, he is championing “a bold new proposal to broaden the Global Fund’s mandate and consolidate it into a fully financed Global Fund for the Health MDGs [Millennium Development Goals]”. Minister Tedros told The Lancet: “Simply put, I know of no other development finance model as effective as the Global Fund. We must, therefore, do all we can to ensure that it continues to succeed in the years to come. I believe donors www.thelancet.com Vol 375 April 24, 2010
are well aware of the Global Fund’s impact to date and are already listening to our fervent call that now is the time to boost and sustain their investments in this unique development instrument that stands to bring about a lasting and transformative change of our world as whole.” Hareya Fassil, international affairs advisor at the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, recalls that Minister Tedros was “a household name at the Global Fund Secretariat” where she worked in 2007. Under Tedros’ leadership as Minister of Health, Ethiopia was regularly cited at the Global Fund as an exemplary high-performing country. Ethiopia was also the first to sign a country compact with the International Health Partnership. Fassil remembers thinking “he sounded too good to be true, but when I finally met him, I was simply awestruck by his humility and openness”. Fassil now knows Minister Tedros to be “modest to a fault”, yet with “a highly compelling ‘it can be done—we will find a way’ attitude”. After graduating in biology from the University of Asmara in 1986, Tedros did research on malaria and received his PhD in community health from the University of Nottingham, UK, in 2000. Subsequent national and global posts, including the chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, found him using his malaria expertise and widening his focus to other diseases and health systems overall. His experience at the Ministry of Health and of Ethiopia’s representation in global health initiatives afford him valuable insights that he brings to bear on challenges facing the Global Fund. Minister Tedros has been leading Ethiopia through its ongoing radical sector-wide health reform, and is now seeing implementation of the main building blocks of an effective health system. Minister Tedros acknowledges that he takes little time off work except to read, seeking out books that focus on issues and subjects that he is contemplating or learning from books that document the real life experiences of people from all walks of life. In his home country, he is sustained by the results of his work: “the prospects of making a real difference in the lives of our people and the development of our country is worth every effort”. Globally, he emphasises that continued unified action is indispensable. “The creation and gains made by the Global Fund have been precisely because the world came together as one to act decisively on health. Now more than ever, our continued unity and steadfast collective commitment to the Global Fund’s crucial mission will be absolutely key to its continued success.”
Kelly Morris [email protected]
1429