Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative to Syrian Arab RepublicDr Akjemal Magtymova assumed her functions as WHO Representative to the Syrian Arab Republic at the end of April 2020.

Having served as a clinical practitioner and a researcher in maternal health and human reproduction in Turkmenistan, Dr Magtymova dedicated the past 20 years to international development working with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Turkmenistan and Lao PDR; with WHO in the countries of the South-East Asia Region (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia/New Delhi, WHO country offices in Maldives and Nepal) and later joined WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Before the current assignment, Dr Magtymova completed nearly 3 years as WHO Representative to Oman, and prior to which had served as Deputy Head and Emergency Coordinator of the WHO country office in Yemen, leading operations to address the complex humanitarian emergency.

During her tenure in the Republic of Maldives, she played an active role in peace processes as acting UN Resident Coordinator/Designate UN Security Official in addition to her portfolio as a WHO Representative.

At the global level, Dr Magtymova has been an active contributor to the development of WHO-led technical guidelines and research and authored/co-authored a number of national and regional level technical publications. Dr Magtymova has had various functions throughout her career, including support to health reforms, leading multi-stakeholder policy dialogue for equitable health financing strategies with a focus on universal health coverage.

Dr Magtymova is a medical doctor specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology with MSc in Health Systems Management from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine distinctively combined with Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Dr Magtymova’s professional aspiration is to promote global health and diplomacy for peace and sustainable development.

Speeches

Global seminar and launch of the report of the WHO global meeting to accelerate progress on SDG target 3.4 on noncommunicable diseases and mental health
27 January 2021

Workshop session on the trajectory of the Syria crisis
28 September 2020

Patient Safety Day 2020
21 September 2020