I have a reputation for being a straight-talker.

The way I look at - speaking as a woman - I understand what it means to be a daughter, and to be a wife, and to be a mother, and also to be a career woman. The multiple roles that women can play in a society if given the opportunity is really a tremendous asset.

When you're dealing with new and emerging diseases, you have no idea and you can't predict in advance what would happen.

Health system development is a key to effective detection, response, and control of any outbreak.

I want us to be judged by the impact we have on the health of the people of Africa and the health of women. Improvements in the health of the people of Africa and the health of women are key indicators of the performance of WHO. This is a health organization for the whole world... But we must focus our attention on the people in greatest need.

Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, and the related Accra Agenda for Action, are useful policy instruments that set out the mutual responsibilities of donors and recipient countries.