On January 28, 2026 (Wednesday), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme, paid a courtesy visit to Nagasaki University.

Dr. Ihekweazu has been contributing to the operation of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin in his capacity as Assistant Director-General responsible for the Division of Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems.
https://www.who.int/director-general/who-headquarters-leadership-team

This visit took place ahead of his special lecture at the 36th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japan Epidemiological Association (JEA) & the 3rd Joint Scientific Meeting with the IEA Western Pacific Region (IEA-WPR), held at Dejima Messe Nagasaki from January 28 to 30. Professor KANEKO Satoshi of Nagasaki University served as Congress President.

At Nagasaki University, President NAGAYASU Takeshi, Trustee YASUTAKE Atsuko (Student Affairs and International Affairs), Professor KANEKO Satoshi (Institute of Tropical Medicine), who also served as Congress President, and Professor FURUSE Yuki of the University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (visiting researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine) welcomed Dr. Ihekweazu.

Dr. Gina Samaan, Regional Emergency Director at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO), also joined the meeting.

During the courtesy visit, participants exchanged views on strengthening collaboration between WHO and Nagasaki University, including future possibilities for cooperation in Planetary Health and infectious disease preparedness.

Nagasaki University will continue to work closely with WHO and partners in Japan and abroad—centered on the Institute of Tropical Medicine—to further promote international collaborative research and education, prepare for future health challenges, and contribute to solving global health issues.