Lisbon, 10 December 2012 -- The Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal) has bestowed the title of "Doutor Honoris Causa" on Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa. The ceremony took place today in Lisbon, Portugal presided over by Professor Antonio Rendas, Rector of the University and the Members of the University Council.

The distinction was awarded in recognition of his distinguished expertise and outstanding contribution to public health in Africa.

In his speech at the ceremony Dr. Sambo expressed his appreciation for the honour bestowed on him and said: “The credits emerging from the technical cooperation of WHO with African Member-States are to be shared with all previous WHO Regional Directors for Africa, medical doctors and humanists of great talent".

The Regional Director advocated for cross-fertilization among different disciplines as a way of achieving better understanding of public health issues and developing creative solutions.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health of Angola, the Ambassador of Angola in Portugal, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University Agostinho Neto amongst other academic, diplomatic and political personalities.
____________________________________________________________________

Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Acting Programme Manager - Communications 
+ 472413 9420 E-mail: Boakyec [at] afro.who.int