Edinburgh, 14 July 2022 (TDI): Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, received the honorary degree alongside Anne Marie Rafferty.
The University of Edinburgh awarded Ghebreyesus and Rafferty the title of doctor Honorius Causa on 14 July 2022.
They received these honorary degrees at the graduation ceremony for Nursing studies at McEwan Hall.
Honoured to be a member of @EdinburghUni and I am truly proud to accept this honorary doctoral degree on behalf of @WHO, nurses, midwives and other health workers around the world. Congratulations to all #EdinburghGrad! Let’s leave the world a better place than we found it. pic.twitter.com/Ty5N3A43hM
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 14, 2022
The two are active in contributing positively to uplifting the profile of nursing and midwifery. He said, “I am honored to receive this honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh, and I do so on behalf of nurses, and other health professionals worldwide, who work, day in and day out, without fanfare, to heal and save lives”.
Ghbreyesus appreciated the efforts of nurses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demands and dangers that many faced only grew. Despite this, nurses and other health and care workers took their place at the forefront of the pandemic response…..”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the current Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
World Health Assembly appointed Ghebreyesus Director-General in July 2017. In May 2022, the World Health Assembly re-elected him for a second term at the 75th World Health Assembly.
In 2020, the WHO Assembly declared 2020 as the year international of the Nurse and Midwife.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign highlighted the work of nurses and midwives. It showcased the difficulties nurses and midwives face and called for increased investments in the medical field.
Also read: Director-General WHO addresses COVID-19 Briefing
Anne Marie Rafferty
Anne Marie Rafferty is a profound academician, clinician, policy, and thought leader in nursing. She is also a recipient of the doctor honoris causa from Edinburgh University. The university gave her the award to appreciate her 25 years of strategic organizational leadership influence in the medical and academic fields. She is also among the 70 most influential nurses in 70 years of the NHS.
