Welcome to the World Health Voices, where global leaders share insights at the intersection of health, policy and innovation.
In this episode, Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan sits down with Shenaaz El-Halabi, a World Health Organization representative in South Africa, Former Director of the Office of the WHO Director-General and Former Health Permanent Secretary of Botswana. With decades of experience in public health and leadership, she shares powerful reflections on her personal journey, career path, and the values that shaped her work.
She then talks about her journey, from working in Botswana’s Ministry of Health for over two decades to becoming Chief of Staff to the WHO Director-General. Shenaaz provides insights into global health leadership, navigating crises like COVID-19, and the realities of working at the highest levels of international health governance.
The episode also explores Botswana’s success story in healthcare and governance, the importance of prevention and public health systems, and the challenges facing global institutions today.