Dr. Matshidiso Moeti

Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti is the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. She is the first woman to be elected to this position and is currently in her second term. Over the past six years, Dr. Moeti has led a Transformation Agenda that is widely acknowledged to have improved WHO’s performance on emergencies, enhancing accountability, and driven progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She leads WHO’s support to the COVID-19 pandemic response in Africa. Dr. Moeti is a medical doctor and a public health expert, with more than 43 years of experience. Under her leadership, tremendous progress has been made. Wild poliovirus was eliminated in Africa in 2020,the second disease to be eradicated from the region since smallpox 40 years ago. Investments in areas such as surveillance, training, innovation, community engagement and partnerships, have improved countries’ capacities to prepare for and respond to health emergencies, and outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19, Mpox and Ebola. Moreover, there is a growing recognition of the need for strong and resilient health systems to manage external shocks, like health emergencies. Most African countries are pursuing reforms to achieve UHC, focusing on expanding access to services with attention to equity and reaching the most vulnerable populations. Since 1999, she has held several senior positions with WHO in the African Region. Dr. Moeti successfully led WHO’s “3 by 5” initiative to expand access to antiretroviral therapy in African countries. Prior to joining WHO, Dr. Moeti worked with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Botswana’s Ministry of Health. In recognition of her exemplary service to humanity, Dr. Moeti has received numerous accolades and honorary fellowships from renowned academic intuitions. She is a strong advocate for women in leadership roles in global health.