WHO Envoy to Champion Sustainable Health Financing, Climate Resilience
Oluwatobi Adu 
Dr Vanessa Kerry and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Dr Vanessa Kerry as its Director-General’s Special Envoy for Health Resilience, with a mandate to promote sustainable health financing and stronger investment in health systems worldwide.
The appointment, announced on Wednesday in Geneva, expands Kerry’s work with the global health agency after her previous role as WHO’s first Director-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health.
In her new position, Kerry will focus on strengthening health systems against climate-related pressures, health emergencies and other emerging threats.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Kerry’s new assignment builds on her previous efforts to make climate change a central issue in global health discussions.
“This appointment reflects the natural evolution of Dr Kerry’s work with WHO,” Tedros said.
“Her leadership in elevating climate change as a critical health issue has helped build momentum for stronger and more resilient health systems. As Special Envoy for Health Resilience, Dr Kerry will help advance WHO’s efforts to ensure countries have the financing, partnerships and integrated approaches needed to withstand current and future challenges.”
Kerry will advocate for increased investment in health workers, infrastructure and sustainable financing, including greater domestic resource mobilisation to support universal health coverage.
“Resilience is not a singular program – it’s the foundation a health system needs to function every day, and to hold when the pressure comes, whether that’s the slow strain of a changing climate or the sudden shock of a funding cut or a pandemic,” she said.
“You can’t build that foundation crisis by crisis. It must be built over time – by investing in the necessary workforce, financing and infrastructure, owned and sustained by a country for itself.”
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
