Biography
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was born on March 3, 1965, in Asmara, which was part of Ethiopia at the time. He started his education at the University of Asmara and continued his studies in the UK, earning degrees from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Nottingham, and the University of London. His focus on microbiology and malaria research set the stage for his career in public health and global health policy.
Tedros began his career as a malariologist and microbiologist, researching infectious diseases that heavily impacted African communities. His skills in tropical medicine and epidemiology led to significant roles in Ethiopia's health sector. From 2005 to 2012, he was Ethiopia's Minister of Health, where he carried out major reforms that lowered child and maternal death rates. His success in this role showed his ability to apply scientific knowledge to public policy.
In 2012, Tedros moved into diplomacy as Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until 2016. This role widened his international connections and gave him vital experience in international negotiations. This diplomatic experience prepared him for the complex international issues he would face as a leader of a major United Nations agency.
In 2017, Tedros was elected as Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the first African in this role. Support from the African Union was key to his successful election. His time in office has been marked by significant global health challenges, like the Ebola virus outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020, and the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak. His leadership has received both praise for promoting global health equity and criticism regarding the WHO's response coordination.
Throughout his career, Tedros has earned numerous international awards for his work in global health. These include being named to Nature's 10 list in 2020, receiving the Commander of the National Order of the Lion in 2018, and being awarded the Silver Olympic Order in 2023. He became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society in 2022 and was featured in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People lists in both 2020 and 2025.
Before Fame
Growing up in Asmara during a time of major political turmoil in the Horn of Africa, Tedros saw the health problems that developing countries faced up close. The region dealt with ongoing conflicts and economic troubles in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to outbreaks of infectious diseases and a lack of proper healthcare infrastructure.
In the late 20th century, global health efforts increasingly aimed to tackle health inequalities between developed and developing countries. International groups and universities expanded programs to train health workers from Africa and other developing areas. This environment provided a chance for promising students like Tedros to study abroad and return with the knowledge needed to tackle local health issues. The rise of evidence-based public health practices and the growing awareness of social factors affecting health offered a way for scientifically trained professionals to impact health policies at both national and international levels.
Key Achievements
- First African Director-General of the World Health Organization (2017-present)
- Reduced child mortality in Ethiopia by two-thirds during his tenure as Health Minister
- Led global health response coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Established Ethiopia's innovative Health Extension Program training rural health workers
- Received Time 100 Most Influential People recognition in both 2020 and 2025
Did You Know?
- 01.He is fluent in multiple languages including Tigrinya, Amharic, English, and Italian
- 02.Tedros was instrumental in establishing Ethiopia's Health Extension Program, which trained over 34,000 rural health workers
- 03.He worked as a young researcher on malaria vector control in rural Ethiopian communities before entering government service
- 04.During his time as Foreign Minister, he helped negotiate Ethiopia's participation in the Paris Climate Agreement
- 05.He was the first WHO Director-General to be elected by the World Health Assembly rather than appointed by the WHO Executive Board
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nature's 10 | 2020 | — |
| Commander of the National Order of the Lion | 2018 | — |
| Grand Officer of the National Order of Benin | 2018 | — |
| Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society | 2022 | — |
| Order of the Serbian Flag | — | — |
| Silver Olympic Order | 2023 | — |
| Time 100 | 2025 | — |