7 April 2024, Port Sudan, Sudan – Newly appointed WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Sudan Dr Shible Sahbani presented his credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan His Excellency Mr Ali Elsadig Ali on 21 March 2024, in Port Sudan.
During the meeting, Dr Sahbani reaffirmed both his own and WHO’s commitment to protect the health of Sudan’s people and to support life-saving operations using all available avenues. He assured the Minister that WHO is working to strengthen its response to the health crisis in Sudan through provision of emergency health and medical supplies, technical assistance, and direct operations support.
Dr Sabhani asked for the Government of Sudan’s support to ensure the smooth, safe and unhindered movement of emergency supplies and personnel to reach the most vulnerable. Such efforts are vital to serve displaced populations in Darfur and other hard-to-reach areas of Sudan to avoid unnecessary illness and death due to lack of health care access.
The WHO Director-General appointed Dr Sahbani the WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Sudan on 17 March 2024.
Dr Sahbani is from Morocco and is a medical doctor with 25 years of experience in clinical practice, public health, development and humanitarian aid. Prior to joining WHO in his current role, he worked for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), most recently as Representative to the Central African Republic. He has also been acting Representative to Libya; Regional Reproductive Health Adviser for Arab States, based in Cairo, Egypt; Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan; Humanitarian Team Lead in Tunisia; and Maternal Health Officer in Morocco.
Before joining the United Nations system, Dr Sahbani worked with private, public and nongovernmental organizations in the health sector. He also worked in humanitarian assistance in various countries.
Dr Sahbani earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Hassan II University in Casablanca, Morocco. He also holds a Master’s degree and other qualifications in various relevant areas of expertise from universities in Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco and Switzerland.
