The Director General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Professor PALOKINAM T. PITCHE, held his first meeting with the entire staff of the Organisation on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Abidjan.
The meeting provided an opportunity for him to share with staff his vision for the functioning of the institution and the principles that will guide his management throughout his tenure.
Addressing the staff, Professor PITCHE first commended the work accomplished over the past few years, particularly in a regional context marked by several challenges and despite sometimes difficult working conditions. He thanked staff members for their commitment and contribution to ensuring the continuity of WAHO's activities.
The Director General placed teamwork at the heart of his management approach. Drawing on the metaphor of a sports team, he stressed that collective performance should take precedence over individual interests and that every member of staff, regardless of their role, has a part to play in achieving the Organisation's objectives.
“We are a team. What matters most is that everyone plays their part and contributes to the performance of the whole. We must move forward together and win together,” he emphasised.
For Professor Pitche, collective success will depend on the ability of each staff member to carry out their assigned tasks effectively, as well as on solidarity among staff in addressing the challenges facing the Organisation. In this regard, he identified efficiency as one of the key criteria for performance. The pursuit of efficiency, he stressed, must be underpinned by trust and accountability.
He also highlighted several values that he would like to see further strengthened within WAHO: fraternity, solidarity, cordiality and mutual respect. Respect, he noted, must apply to everyone, regardless of position or responsibility, and should be reflected in day-to-day professional relationships.
Professor Pitche further called on staff to actively contribute to promoting the image of WAHO and ECOWAS. According to him, every staff member should consider themselves an ambassador of the institution and contribute, through their conduct and work, to raising awareness of the achievements of WAHO and ECOWAS and their impact on the lives of the people of the region.
In this regard, he underscored the importance of strengthening communication around the Organisation's activities and results in order to enhance understanding of its mandate, interventions and contribution to improving the health of West African populations.
In conclusion, Professor Palokinam T. Pitche reaffirmed his availability and openness to dialogue with all staff. He called on everyone to contribute, in a spirit of good faith and responsibility, to building a professional environment conducive to collective performance.
This first meeting with staff therefore reflects the new Director General's commitment to pursuing his mandate through an approach founded on teamwork, efficiency, trust, accountability, solidarity and mutual respect, in support of WAHO's mission and health integration in West Africa.
