Kathmandu, Nov 1: Nepal’s official candidate for the post of South-East Asia Regional Director of World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya has lost election. In the voting held at New Delhi today, Dr Acharya just managed to garner 2 votes out of 10 votes.
In the regional meeting at New Delhi, Ms Saima Wazed, a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen, secured the top post after receiving 8 votes. She is the daughter of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. PM Hasina has played a crucial role to nominate daughter Saima.
A total of 11 countries represent the WHO’s South-East Asia Region including Nepal, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, North Korea and Timor Leste.
Some believe that it was a total failure for Nepal’s diplomatic front.
Saima Wazed is the psychologist as profession and mental health expert.
Meanwhile, Dr Shambhu Acharya has congratulated @drSaimaWazed for her election as Regional Director. In a tweet he has said, “As a public health leader I would continue to work for public health and extend hands to support in anyway I can.”