Luanda - The regional director for Africa of the World Health Organisation, Luis Gomes Sambo, has thanked the governments from member states of the African organization, in particular the Health ministers for trusting him in his re-election to the post.

Gomes Sambo expressed this gratitude Thursday in Geneva (Switzerland), while delivering an acceptance speech.

 
He said that despite the progress made to improve the health situation in Africa, maternal and infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases, epidemics and the emerging burden of chronic diseases still continue affecting drastically the people of the continent, especially the poor.

  
However, Sambo expressed concern about the limited budgetary resources, for providing to Member States support in areas such as management of health systems, the health information systems, non-communicable diseases, maternal health and neglected tropical diseases.

 
Luis Gomes Sambo, graduated in medicine at the "Agostinho Neto" University and "Nova de Lisboa" University, has held the post of deputy minister of Health in Angola from 1983 to 1989 before joining the WHO.

 
He has held various positions within the WHO, including as the head of the cross-countries Strategic Support Team for the Southern African countries.

 
The doctor will officially resume his second term on 01 February 2010.