GHealth News – The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Dr Vanessa Kerry as the WHO Director-General’s Special Envoy for Health Resilience, expanding her previous mandate as the organization’s first Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health.
In her new role, Dr Kerry will support WHO’s efforts to strengthen resilient, integrated, and sustainably financed health systems capable of responding to everyday health needs while preparing for emerging threats, including climate change, health emergencies, and other complex global challenges.
Working closely with governments, multilateral organizations, development partners, civil society, and the private sector, Dr Kerry will advocate for stronger health systems, sustainable financing models, and improved coordination of global health resources in alignment with national priorities.
Announcing the appointment, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the evolution of Dr Kerry’s work within the organization.
“Her leadership in elevating climate change as a critical health issue has helped build momentum for stronger and more resilient health systems. As Special Envoy for Health Resilience, Dr Kerry will help advance WHO’s efforts to ensure countries have the financing, partnerships and integrated approaches needed to withstand current and future challenges,” he said.
As Special Envoy, Dr Kerry will focus on promoting investments in integrated health systems, advancing sustainable financing for universal health coverage—including stronger domestic resource mobilization—and providing strategic guidance to WHO leadership. She will also engage high-level decision-makers globally while supporting resource mobilization efforts.
A key priority of the new mandate will be strengthening climate-resilient health systems, building on her previous work in climate and health. The role will advocate for long-term investments in the health workforce, sustainable country-led financing strategies, and stronger coordination among global health stakeholders. It also aims to support the transition from fragmented health initiatives toward more coherent, nationally led health systems within the evolving global health architecture.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Kerry emphasized that resilience must be embedded into health systems rather than developed only during crises.
“Resilience is not a singular program, it’s the foundation a health system needs to function every day, and to hold when the pressure comes, whether that’s the slow strain of a changing climate or the sudden shock of a funding cut or a pandemic. You can’t build that foundation crisis by crisis. It must be built over time—by investing in the necessary workforce, financing and infrastructure, owned and sustained by a country for itself.”
WHO said the appointment reflects its continued commitment to supporting countries in building resilient health systems that improve health outcomes, advance universal health coverage, and strengthen preparedness for an increasingly complex global risk landscape.