KATHMANDU, Nov 1: Nepal encountered a significant setback in the realm of diplomacy as its candidate for the position of WHO South-East Asia regional director faced a defeat in the election held in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Saima Wazed of Bangladesh has received a nomination as the forthcoming WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, as decided by member states during a closed session at the Seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the South-East Asia Region.

In the election, Wazed secured eight votes, while Nepal's candidate, Dr. Shambhu Prasad Acharya, only managed to garner two votes. This outcome is seen as a setback for Nepal, with critics pointing to a lack of proactive diplomatic efforts by the Nepalese government to secure Dr. Acharya's victory.

The nomination of Saima Wazed will now be presented to the WHO Executive Board during its 154th session scheduled for January 22-27, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. The newly appointed Regional Director Wazed, daughter of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, is set to assume office on February 1, 2024.

 
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