Tedros re-elected as head of WHO

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) members re-elected Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as Director General by a strong majority for another five years.

The president of the World Health Assembly made the announcement on Tuesday.

The vote by secret ballot, announced by Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh from Djibouti at a major annual meeting, was seen as a formality since Tedros was the only candidate running.

Ministers and delegates took turns to shake hands and hug Tedros, a former health minister from Ethiopia, who has steered the UN agency through a turbulent period dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abdilleh had to use a gavel several times to interrupt the applause.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach tweeted on Tuesday: "Just re-elected as ⁦Director General of #WHO: @DrTedros⁩. 155/160 votes, spectacular result. Congratulations, fully deserved."

Germany recently overtook the United States as the UN health agency's top donor.