Global health advocate and philanthropist, Toyin Saraki, has been appointed as the inaugural World Health Organisation (WHO) Foundation Ambassador for Global Health.Saraki has over 20 years of experience in global health advocacy.
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Her appointment was made public on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, through a joint statement issued by the WHO Foundation and the Wellbeing Foundation which she founded in 2004. The World Health Organization Foundation is an independent entity complementing the World Health Organization. Reacting to Toyin Saraki’s appointment, the Chief Executive Officer of the WHO Foundation, Mr Anil Soni, hailed her achievements as a high profile global advocate with decades of experience and work dedicated to women and children’s health and empowerment. Anil also praised the Nigerian’s tireless efforts towards improving global health through advocacy.
“I am deeply honoured to have Saraki serve the WHO Foundation as our first Ambassador for Global Health. Her energy and deep commitment to educating, advocating and fundraising on behalf of WHO Foundation’s mission, will make a critical difference to global health initiatives. Her ambassadorship will enable us to power the vital work of WHO through the triple billion goals for a fairer and more equitable world.’’ Anil SoniSaraki, 57, also expressed delight in her new role and is looking forward to her time with the group.
“The WHO Foundation is a force for good in the global health ecosystem and is driving catalytic change to overcome today’s most pressing global health challenges. I look forward to working with the foundation to propel one of the world’s most influential global health initiatives forward.’’ Toyin Saraki
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Toyin Saraki is the wife of former Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Aside from her passion for advocacy, she holds an L.L.B degree in Law from the London School of Oriental and African Studies, and an L.L.M in International Economic Law from King’s College London. She was called to bar in 1989. A Nigerian philanthropist with over two decades of experience in advocating for maternal, newborn and child health, improving education, gender-based discrimination and violence, and improving socio-economic empowerment and community livelihoods in Africa, Saraki is also a global health advocate for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria and works really hard towards reducing the rate of maternal and infant mortality. A key contributor to the establishment of Lifestream Charity in 1993, Toyin Saraki is also a strong advocate for the United Nations Every Woman Every Child campaign. She is a member of the board of the Global Foundation for the Elimination of Domestic Violence and is part of the Africa Justice Foundation board. In 2019, she was appointed to the International Steering Council of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Some of her roles include Special Advisor to the WHO Africa Regional Office, Board Observer to the WHO Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health PMNCH, Newborn Champion for Save the Children Nigeria, United Nations Population Fund UNFPA Family Planning Champion, Inaugural Global Goodwill Ambassador to the International Confederation of Midwives (2014), Universal Health Coverage Champion by Devex, and White Ribbon Alliance Global Champion. Sources Pulse NG Wikipedia Wellbeing Foundation Featured Image Source: British Vogue
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