Meet Anders Nordström, Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Sweden and Member of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health Council
A trained physician at the Karolinska Institutet in the field of national and international health policy, planning and strategic leadership, Anders Nordström holds the position of Ambassador for Global Health at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs since September 2010. Dr Nordström served as Assistant Director-General and acting Director-General for the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the Head of the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone. He is a member of the Commission for Universal Health convened by Chatham House. Anders Nordström’s motivation to join the Virchow Foundation for Global Health is to further engage the dialogue around key global health issues.
Read more on his role within the Foundation and his engagement for global health in his capacity as an Ambassador.
From your perspective, why is engagement and awareness raising for global health important?
The factors of highest importance to people’s health are increasingly related to global and regional trends and transitions. Action needs to happen locally, but global cooperation is needed to address some of the challenges. A pandemic treaty is one example. Another is to reduce the use of fossil fuel and air pollution through the continued climate negotiations. A third example is innovation and research. Health is also an issue that connects and brings people together across the world.
How are you committed to engaging in global health topics within your current professional role and activities?
I have been engaged and committed to improving health for more than 30 years in different roles and capacities. A key priority right now is to ensure that Sweden, through our EU Council Presidency, advances the EU institutions and member states contribution to global health.
A strong personal interest is to better link the global climate and health work together. There are huge co-benefits to be gained and visualised.
How do you hope to achieve greater awareness and engagement for global health in your new role at the Virchow Foundation for Global Health? How can the Virchow Prize for Global Health help to increase awareness?
The fact that the Virchow Prize for Global Health is focusing on public health and not merely the medical aspect of health is important. The Prize can contribute to a better understanding of that. The group of people engaged in the advisory council are great global health leaders with extensive networks and can be instrumental in the dialogue around key global health issues. The Virchow Prize for Global Health can serve as a platform.
Meet the Members of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health Council: www.virchowprize.org/council/
