Malta’s Health Minister Chris Fearne is set to be appointed the President Of the World Health Organisation today.

Fearne will be president of the 46th edition of the assembly that brings together WHO’s 194 member states. However, he will still keep his duties within Malta’s government.

Taking to social media, Fearne said that this moment “ “is a great honour for him and for Malta,” ahead of the official ceremony.

Malta was regularly singled out for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, while Fearne has also been responsible for introducing reforms to the islands’ in-vitro fertilisation law and a bill that will slightly soften Malta’s full ban on abortion.

The presidential position has a one-year term and comes to a head with the annual assembly, where delegates discuss priorities and policies outlined at the beginning of the term.

What do you make of Fearne’s appointment as WHO assembly president?