Date: 2018-03-21

Toyin Saraki continues to break new grounds in her efforts at helping vulnerable people across Africa .

She has been named as special advisor to the Independent Advisory Group of the World Health Organisation AFRO .

Reacting to her appointment, she welcomed the introduction of WHO AFRO's focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of Midwives and Nurses in Africa Wife of the Senate president, Toyin Saraki, has been named as special advisor to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of WHO AFRO, the World Health Organization's presence in Africa.

The appointment was made earlier this month by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, in a move intended to bring Mrs Saraki's considerable front-line experience to bear on WHO strategy and policy.

Mrs Saraki's first engagement in the new role will take place this week at the 3rd meeting of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

NAIJ.com gathered that the meeting will focus on re-positioning the work of the WHO in Africa in the context of the WHO's 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the global WHO Transformation Plan.

Responding to her appointment, Mrs Saraki said: "As a global champion for UHC, I advocate for a fuller understanding of its benefits, which go beyond health outcomes and include improved gender equality, higher levels of preparedness for epidemic outbreaks and transformative economic effects.

"As global goodwill ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, I particularly welcome the introduction of WHO AFRO's focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of Midwives and Nurses in Africa. .

"I am looking forward to hitting the ground running in my new role as special advisor at the Independent Advisory Group meeting this week in Johannesburg.

"The experience I have gained as Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, working closely with our midwives on the frontline, as part of the global Every Woman Every Child Strategy to end all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030, will inform my advice to the WHO."

Last week, Mrs Saraki was named as "Health-for-All Champion" and one of four women making waves in global health by Devex, the international development media platform and social ent.