Professor Dr Georges Alfred Ki-Zerbo, a national of Burkina Faso, is the new WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Iraq. He took up the role on 15 December 2023.
He is a fervent advocate for universal health coverage, health security, human capital development and the promotion of health and well-being across the life cycle – all of which are needed to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Ki-Zerbo specializes in infectious diseases and epidemiology, with a focus on international health and development. He has honed his expertise in health, education, emergencies, and social and human development over a remarkable career that spans 3 decades.
Previously, Dr Ki-Zerbo was Director of the WHO Office to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (October 2021–December 2023). In this role, he played a pivotal part in advancing global and continental health initiatives. Prior to this, Dr Ki-Zerbo served as the WHO Representative in Guinea, based in Conakry (December 2016–October 2021).
His contributions to the field go even further back, dating from his time at the WHO Regional Office for Africa from 2004 to 2016. Among the key positions he held were Medical Officer for HIV/AIDS, Regional Advisor for Malaria, Coordinator of the Communicable Diseases Programme Area and Coordinator of the WHO Inter-Country Support Team for Central Africa.
In July 2014, during the West Africa Ebola virus outbreak, Dr Ki-Zerbo showed strong leadership by coordinating the set-up of a subregional public health emergency operations centre in Conakry, Guinea. His efforts were instrumental in briefing key stakeholders about the need for the PHEOC and about the outbreak situation. These stakeholders included the WHO Director-General, WHO Regional Director for Africa, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guinea, Regional Sustainable Development Group, and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of States Ebola Response Council.
Dr Ki-Zerbo was the Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guinea from November 2018 to May 2020. This role showcased his versatility and his commitment to address health and development challenges at both the regional and global levels.
To engage with Dr Ki-Zerbo, you can contact him direct:
Mobile phone: +9 64 78 00 22 00 55
Email:
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kizerbogeorges
X (formerly Twitter): @kizerbogeorgesa and @WHOIraq