Kathmandu, Jan. 25 -- The executive board of the World Health Organisation on Wednesday confirmed Saima Wazed as the UN body's Southeast Asia regional director. Wazed will begin her five-year term on February 1.

"There is a lot of work to be done, and I am extremely pleased to be starting this journey at this moment with all of you," Wazed said in her acceptance speech after taking oath in Geneva. "I am excited for all that we can, and will, do together in the coming years."

Wazed is the first person from Bangladesh to be the regional director of the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEARO) and only the second woman to hold the post. She was elected the regional director in a vote held by the regional committee for South-East Asia on November...