The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Kenyan physician and polio expert, Dr. Jamal Ahmed, as the new Director for Polio Eradication and Chair of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategy Committee.
Dr. Ahmed, who previously served as the Coordinator of WHO’s Africa Regional Polio Eradication Programme, steps into the role following the death of former director Aidan O’Leary in August 2024.
Recognized for his expertise in strengthening surveillance systems and laboratory capacity, Dr. Ahmed has held key positions in WHO’s polio eradication efforts in Geneva and Pakistan. He also worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Nairobi and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Jordan and Geneva.
Expressing his commitment, Dr. Ahmed stated, “While progress is fragile, we will tackle the challenges with determination and optimism to finish the job.”
His appointment comes as Africa reported 134 new polio cases across seven countries in 2024. Polio primarily affects children under five, with one in 200 infections leading to irreversible paralysis. The virus spreads through contaminated water or food and can cause total paralysis within hours.
Dr. Ahmed holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from Türkiye and a Master’s in Epidemiology from the UK.