Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended Professor William Kwabena Ampofo, whose term as Chairman of the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Advisory Group (PIP is coming to an end.

The Ghanaian Head of PIP is an Associate Professor with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.

In a letter to Dr Ampofo, Dr Chan said: “I wish to take this opportunity to extend my deepest thanks to you for your valuable service to WHO and indeed to global health during this time.”

The PIP framework represents an historic advancement in the global community’s work to prepare for future influenza pandemics.

The Framework was designed to ensure a more transparent and equitable system for sharing influenza viruses with pandemic potential, on the other hand, and improving the capacity of the global community to respond to influenza pandemics on the other.

“The work and deliberations of the Advisory Group under your stewardship over the past four years has moved towards these goals that are of great importance to international public health.

“The advice generated by the Advisory Group is critical for resolving issues that arise in connection with implementation of the PIP Framework and strengthening important capacities to allow all Member States to more effectively respond to an influenza pandemic,” she said.

Dr Chan said the high quality of the work and recommendations submitted to her by the Advisory Group over the last four years, had given her confidence that “we are on the right path to strengthening both pandemic preparedness and global public health security”.