Hans Kluge
Hans Kluge in 2020
Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization
Assumed office
1 February 2020
Preceded byZsuzsanna Jakab
Personal details
Alma materKU Leuven

Hans Henri Marcel Paul Kluge (born 29 November 1968, in Roeselare) is a Belgian medical doctor and public health expert with more than 25 years of experience spanning three continents. As of 1 February 2020, he served as the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe after being nominated in September 2019 by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.[1][2][3] In 2019, Belgium proposed Dr Kluge as a candidate for the position of WHO Regional Director for Europe.[4]

He qualified in medicine, surgery and obstetrics at KU Leuven in 1994.[5]

As WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Kluge introduced a new strategic vision for the WHO European Region, called "United action for better health".[6] When introducing the vision, Dr Kluge said, "Together, we must build a pan-European culture of health, where health and well-being goals guide public and private decision-making, and everyone can make healthy choices". This vision was translated into the European Programme of Work 2020-2025 (EPW), which was formally adopted by the Region in September 2020.[7]

Dr Kluge also initiated the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development, an independent and interdisciplinary group of leaders convened to rethink policy priorities in the light of pandemics.[8] In December 2021 Kluge said:"We can see another storm coming".[9] In February Kluge said "This period of higher protection should be seen as a 'ceasefire' that could bring us enduring peace."[10]

In June 2022, during the 2022 monkeypox outbreak, Kluge called on governments and the public to increase efforts to prevent the disease from extending its geographical reach.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge". Euro.who.int.
  2. ^ "Dr Hans Kluge elected as WHO Regional Director for Europe". Efna.net. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Radiology Management, ICU Management, Healthcare IT, Cardiology Management, Executive Management". Healthmanagement.org. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Dr Hans Kluge is the nominee for WHO Regional Director for Europe". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Hans Henri P. Kluge". KU Leuven Congres. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Vision and strategic directions". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  7. ^ "European Programme of Work (2020–2025) – United Action for Better Health in Europe". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Inaugural meeting of Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development takes place". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Dec 22, 2021 Omicron variant and coronavirus news". Cnn.com. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Europe entering Covid pandemic 'ceasefire', says WHO". BBC News. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ^ "No room for complacency over monkeypox, says WHO". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2022.

External links

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