On 24 January 2017, the 140th Session of the WHO Executive Board awarded me the honour of the appointment of Regional Director for the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), following a nomination by the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (1). Since then, WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan has been very supportive in giving me the opportunity to visit other Regional Offices under her guidance and direction. For the last five years EMRO has been led by Dr Ala Alwan and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for his efforts in leading EMRO with competence and confidence.