Dr Sumana Barua, formerly WHO’s Regional South-East Asia Regional Advisor for Leprosy, is now the new Team Leader of the World Health Organization’s Global Leprosy Programme.

Officially appointed to this role on 20th December 2011, Dr Barua has a PhD in International Health Policy and Planning from the University of Tokyo. Before becoming a Doctor in Medicine from the University of the Philippines in 1989, Dr Barua obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from the same University. In 1999 he gained a Masters in Public Health from the University of Tokyo.

His career with the World Health Organization dates from 1996 and 1997 when he was a Temporary Advisor and evaluated the National Leprosy Elimination Programmes of Indonesia and Myanmar. During 2001 he was employed as a Short-Term Consultant to Cambodia and Vietnam. As Medical Officer and Regional Focus Person for WHO’s Western Pacific Region Leprosy Elimination Programme from April 2002 to July 2007, Dr Barua had responsibility for 37 countries and areas. Up until November 2011 Dr Barua looked after 11 Member States of WHO’s South-East Asia Region as their Regional Adviser and Regional Focal Person.  

Dr Barua has published scientific papers and attended numerous professional conferences and symposia. He is familiar with Bangla, English, Japanese and Tagalog and has lectured as an Assistant Professor in universities in Japan. 

 

Contact: Baruas@searo.who.int

Categories: International Collaboration