Ugandan national Winnie Byanyima has been appointed the new UNAids executive director. She replaces Malian Michel Sidibe, who was forced to step down in May over accusations of serious mismanagement at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guiterres announced Byanyima’s appointment, Thursday, through his spokesman.
The UN chief’s statement announcing Byanyima’s appointment said she “brings a wealth of experience and commitment in harnessing the power of Government, multilateral agencies, the private sector and civil society to end the HIV crisis for communities around the world.”
60-year-old Winnie Byanyima has been head-hunted from British anti-poverty crusader Non-Governmental Organization, OXFAM where she has been serving as executive director since 2013. Accepting the appointment, Byanyima said she was honoured to join UNAids at a critical time in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
UNaids is an innovative partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Over 35 million people have succumbed to Aids-related illnesses since the first case was reported more than 35 years ago.
