The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Dr Vanea Kerry as the Director-General’s Special Envoy for Health Resilience.
WHO announced the appointment in a statement on Wednesday, saying Kerry would champion resilient, integrated and sustainably financed health systems capable of responding to both everyday health needs and emerging threats.
The organisation said her mandate would focus on climate change, health emergencies and other complex global challenges affecting health systems and communities around the world.
The appointment builds on Kerry’s previous role as WHO’s first Director-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the new role as a natural extension of Kerry’s work with the organisation.
He said her leadership had helped raise the profile of climate change as a major health concern while advancing efforts to build stronger and more resilient health systems.
In her new role, Kerry will work with governments, development partners, multilateral institutions, civil society and the private sector to promote health system resilience.
She will also advocate for stronger health systems, sustainable financing and improved coordination of partners and resources around national health priorities.
According to WHO, Kerry will promote greater investment in integrated health systems and sustainable financing for universal health coverage, including efforts to mobilise domestic resources.
Her responsibilities will include high-level advocacy, resource mobilisation and providing strategic advice to WHO leadership on health resilience.
Tedros said the role would place particular emphasis on climate-resilient health systems, investment in health workers and country-led financing approaches, while encouraging stronger collaboration among global health partners.
Kerry said resilient health systems could not be built overnight, stressing the need for sustained investment in health workers, financing and infrastructure.
She said such investments would help countries better withstand climate-related pressures, pandemics and disruptions to funding.
