Andrey V. Pirogov, Assistant Director-General - Executive Director of the WHO Office at the UN was the guest speaker at the February 25, 2008 International Service Breaffast meeting.He joined WHO in 2006 as Executive Director of the WHO Office at the United Nations in New York. Prior to that, he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia in Geneva and in this capacity served as the principal counterpart to WHO and other multilateral health institutions. He has been involved in UN affairs for more than 20 years. Mr Pirogov graduated from the Moscow Institute of International Relations in 1977. He joined the diplomatic service of his country the same year and has since held a wide range of diplomatic posts in the Foreign Ministry of the USSR and Russia.
Mr Pirogov professional appointments include positions with the USSR Embassy to Cameroon, the Russian Mission to the European Communities in Brussels and participation in numerous international conferences. During his diplomatic career, Mr Pirogov gained wide experience with the organizations of the UN system and in such areas as European security, relations between Russia and the EU, disarmament, international security and the external economic relations of Russia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
1. Promoting development
2. Fostering health security
3. Strengthening health systems
4. Harnessing research, information and evidence
5. Enhancing partnerships
Mr. Pirogov as does the WHO web site recognized Rotary International’s Polio Plus program that was established in 1985. Rotary was the first to have the vision of a polio-free world, and continues to play a crucial role in global efforts to eradicate polio. More than one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to protect more than 2 billion children in 122 countries from polio. Rotary provides urgently needed funds - to date, the organization has contributed more than US$ 500 million, and raised an additional US$119 million in 2003. In addition, Rotary's Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute over US$ 1.5 billion to the effort. That amount, combined with direct funds from Rotary, is more than half the money needed for the entire global polio eradication program. Rotary members also provide valuable field support during National Immunization Days through social mobilization and by administering the oral polio vaccine to children.
