WHO Appoints Dr. Pavel Ursu as New Country Representative to Nigeria

A Veteran Public Health Leader

Dr. Ursu brings over two decades of global public health experience to his new position. Prior to his appointment, he served as Director of the Department of Delivery for Impact at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, where he led efforts to strengthen health systems and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He previously held several senior roles across multiple WHO country offices — including WHO Representative in Tajikistan (2010–2015) and Türkiye (2015–2020) — where he earned the WHO Director-General’s Award for exemplary leadership during the Syrian refugee crisis. Dr. Ursu also served in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova in various capacities.

A dual citizen of Romania and Moldova, Dr. Ursu is a qualified physician with an extensive academic background. He holds a Master of Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master’s in Health Services Management, and a Diploma in High Impact Leadership from the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Ursu’s Vision for Nigeria

In his inaugural remarks, Dr. Ursu commended Nigeria for its major health milestones, including the eradication of wild poliovirus and the success of its integrated immunization campaign, which reached over 106 million children nationwide.

“I am honoured to serve as WHO Representative to Nigeria and look forward to working closely with national authorities, development partners, and communities to advance health for all,” he said.

“Nigeria’s strength lies in its people, innovation, and resolve to reform. WHO will focus on ensuring that our cooperation translates into measurable improvements in people’s lives.”

He noted that Nigeria hosts WHO’s largest country office in Africa, underscoring its strategic importance in regional and global health initiatives.

Key Priorities for WHO–Nigeria Partnership

Dr. Ursu outlined six strategic priorities to guide WHO’s collaboration with the Nigerian government:

Expanding domestic health financing and ensuring efficient, results-based spending.
Improving access to affordable, high-quality health services under Universal Health Coverage.
Building stronger health security and emergency preparedness systems.
Advancing digital transformation and promoting data-driven health decision-making.
Supporting local vaccine and medical technology production.
Enhancing Nigeria’s engagement in global health diplomacy.

A Strengthened Partnership for Impact

Public health experts note that Dr. Ursu’s extensive field experience and leadership in complex humanitarian contexts position him to deepen WHO’s technical collaboration with Nigeria — particularly in areas of health financing reform, epidemic preparedness, and local vaccine innovation.

His appointment is seen as a continuation of WHO’s commitment to support Nigeria’s health sector transformation, improve population health outcomes, and align national policies with global health priorities.

✅ Summary:
Dr. Pavel Ursu’s appointment as WHO’s new Country Representative to Nigeria signals renewed momentum for strengthening health systems, achieving universal coverage, and positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in public health innovation.