“This appointment clearly contradicts the United Nations ideals of respect for human rights and human dignity.”
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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is an Ethiopian public health official, researcher, diplomat, and the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2017. He is the first African to become WHO Director-General, receiving an endorsement for the role by the African Union. Tedros played a role in the response to the Ebola virus epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022–2023 mpox outbrea…
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politics · Ethiopian public health official (born 1965) · politician · microbiologist · malariologist · minister · immunologist · biologist · also Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros Adhanom, TA Ghebreyesus, Tedros Adhanom G/Eyesus, Tedros A. Ghebreyesus, T.A. Ghebreyesus
Born 3 March 1965 · Q16196017
48 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 3 entries
“utterly shocked by reports of attacks on ambulances evacuating patients”
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Public attention spiked: 2,603 Wikipedia readers in one day, 10.2× the usual 255, with 0 article edits.
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2025· 2 entries
Awarded Time 100 (2025).
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“Close to 1 million children are severely malnourished and 2.3 million are suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. WHO needs $ 185 million to continue providing medicine and supporting hospitals to prevent more Afghan children and women from dying of malnutrition and the consequences of food insecurity.”
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2023· 5 entries
Rappler rated the claim “World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 to protest disparities in the global distribution of vaccines.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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FactCheck.org rated the claim “Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, "says he isn't vaccinated."” Misleading.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Earned Silver Olympic Order (2023).
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Warned of the humanitarian impact of the war in Sudan, saying that 40% of the Sudanese population was suffering from hunger
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From his role as the Western Pacific regional director, the first time in WHO's history for someone at such a high position
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2022· 10 entries
USA Today rated the claim “WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has not been vaccinated against COVID-19” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Rappler rated the claim “The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is not yet vaccinated against COVID-19.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Reported claimRated FALSE: Vancouver Times states of the article: This obvious satire story has been officially flagged by “fact-checkers”. This is a satire article. Health officials consider COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and effective. · Namibia Fact Check
Namibia Fact Check rated the claim “A satirical article virally shared via social media 'reported' that World Health Organization director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had been arrested for crimes against humanity.” FALSE: Vancouver Times states of the article: This obvious satire story has been officially flagged by “fact-checkers”. This is a satire article. Health officials consider COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and effective..
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AP News rated the claim “Video shows World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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AFP Fact Check rated the claim “WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrested by Interpol” False.
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AP News rated the claim ““Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the current director of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been arrested by Interpol and is being held in prison for crimes against humanity and genocide.”” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Snopes.com rated the claim “World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was arrested for crimes against humanity.” Labeled Satire.
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India Today rated the claim “WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said, ‘Covid-19 is nowhere near us.’” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Awarded Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society (2022).
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fact checker rated the claim “WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted saying: “people who have received the third dose of the Pfizer vaccine are at risk of sexualimpotence, dysfunction, andtransformation.”” fake.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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2021· 3 entries
fact checker rated the claim “Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said that COVID-19 vaccines are being used to kill children at a press conference in Geneva on Monday, December 20, 2021.” misleading.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Once they had been approved by national agencies
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“progress on vaccines gives us all a lift and we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, WHO is concerned that there is a growing perception that the COVID-19 pandemic is over”
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2020· 5 entries
Awarded Nature's 10 (2020).
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“Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.”
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“Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.”
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Published “Considering BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19” in The Lancet — cited 293 times.
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Its bid to be included in the WHO gained international attention with strong support from the United States, Japan, Germany and Australia
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2019· 1 entry
Published “The Ongoing Ebola Epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018–2019” in New England Journal of Medicine — cited 177 times.
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2018· 2 entries
Awarded Commander of the National Order of the Lion (2018).
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Awarded Grand Officer of the National Order of Benin (2018).
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2017· 1 entry
Career landmark: Director-General of the World Health Organization (2017).
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2014· 1 entry
Tedros highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in Africa's political and socio-economic governance and development to realize the continent's long-term agendas
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2012· 1 entry
Career landmark: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia (2012–2016).
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2010· 2 entries
The US State Department named Ethiopia one of the US Global Health Initiative Plus countries, providing the country with greater access to resources for public health projects
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Published “Shrinking the malaria map: progress and prospects” in The Lancet — cited 308 times.
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2005· 3 entries
To 10 percent in 2011, according to the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey
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“Tobacco not only wrecks health and health systems; it’s a drain on economies and the environment. [...] We must strengthen our efforts and scale up our actions while facing increasing interference from the tobacco industry. We are all familiar with the catalogue of deception, lies and half-truths in which tobacco industry specializes.”
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Career landmark: minister of Health of Ethiopia (2005–2012).
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2003· 1 entry
Was appointed a State Minister (deputy minister) for Health, a post he held for just over a year
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2001· 1 entry
Tedros was appointed head of the Tigray Regional Health Bureau
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2000· 2 entries
Earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in community health from the University of Nottingham for research on the effects of dams on malaria transmission in the Tigray region
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Studied at University of Nottingham, Doctor of Philosophy (2000).
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1992· 1 entry
Studied at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Master of Science (1992).
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1986· 3 entries
Studied at University of Asmara, Bachelor of Science (1986).
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After his first degree, Tedros joined the Ethiopian Ministry of Health as a junior public health expert
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Tedros received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Asmara
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1965· 1 entry
Born 1965-03-03.
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