<p>Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh’s&nbsp; autobiography emphasises that public health is a shared responsibility. Lasting change happens when governments, communities, and individuals unite, recognizing that collaboration is the cornerstone of effective, sustainable health systems that serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable.<br /> <strong>H.E. Dr José Ramos-Horta&nbsp;<br /> President of Timor-Leste, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh's book tells a remarkable story, spanning her childhood in India and her distinguished professional life. Her diverse work in public health exemplifies her deep-seated values, expressed in her strong commitment to promoting women's rights and health equity. Her example is one that others will follow, and her legacy one on which others will build.<br /> <strong>Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus<br /> Director General, World Health Organization</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh's memoir is a masterful blend of resilience, leadership and empathy. Her journey from a civil servant to global health icon offers invaluable lessons in equity, dignity, and transformative public health leadership, inspiring future generations to effect meaningful change.<br /> <strong>Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland<br /> Former Prime Minister of Norway and Former Director General, WHO</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>An inspiring journey of an Indian icon in global health. Bridging Worlds showcases the power of health systems thinking and vibrant partnerships - the cardinal principles of public health that Dr Poonam Khetarpal Singh embraced and advanced in her exceptional career. A must-read book for leadership lessons in impacting communities and nations!<br /> <strong>Prof. (Dr) Vinod Kumar Paul<br /> Member of NITI Ayog, Government of India</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Outstanding leaders such as Dr Poonam Singh are important role models for younger generations of women. This book provides many valuable insights and lessons on how to navigate the challenges of a largely male-dominated world, and achieve more equitable health systems.<br /> <strong>Dr Anne Mills<br /> Professor of Health Economics and Policy,&nbsp;<br /> London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>From my work with both the Global Fund and the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, I have observed Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh's valuable support to countries in the elimination of malaria and in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. She has also been a great advocate for accelerating the response by countries in the region to TB.<br /> Her memoir offers critical insights for aspiring public health leaders, emphasizing that good governance is the key to achieving results, and that the elimination of diseases is possible.<br /> <strong>Lady Roslyn Morauta<br /> Chair of the Global Fund Board</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The transformation of Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh from a talented administrator into a seasoned “health politician” and her success in both roles. This is no little achievement, especially for a woman leader who always kept empathy and service to others as her main magnet.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The book is a lesson in humanity as well as a journey across the main challenges of public health in Asia. With candour and modesty, the author describes difficulties, strategies and achievements in the most riveting manner.</p> <p>Besides telling much about her, the book also provides insight into the type of leadership required to address issues in human health. Readers will learn a lot from this remarkable memoir.<br /> <strong>Dr Denis Broun<br /> Former Executive Director, UNITAID</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In her autobiography, Poonam Khetrapal Singh has gifted readers with a treasure. Hers is a riveting journey of learning, self-discovery, courage, wisdom, and above all, service beyond self. This reflection on&nbsp; a meaningful life is worth reading and rereading!<br /> <strong>Dr Olusoji Adeyi, President,&nbsp;<br /> Resilient Health Systems, USA</strong></p>

<p><strong>Poonam Khetrapal Singh</strong> was the first woman to be elected as the World Health Organization Regional Director for South-East Asia in 2013 and was unanimously&nbsp;re-elected for a second five-year term in 2018.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Prior to this she was a civil servant in India where she held many prestigious assignments. She worked in the Health, Population and Nutrition Department of the World Bank before moving to the WHO headquarters in Geneva as Executive Director of Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments Cluster in 1998. Dr Khetrapal Singh has devoted more than four decades to strengthening public health as a leader and manager at national and international levels. She has vast experience in developing evidence-based, scientifically sound policy in complex national and international health systems, leading large multi-sectoral teams and collaborating with global partners and health experts. There are several path-breaking successes associated with her during her tenure at WHO. She led over 20 disease eliminations in one or more countries of the WHO SE Asia Region. Apart from leading from the front in the response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, the Nepal Earthquake of 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Khetrapal Singh initiated the WHO South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund, which has supported 43 emergencies in 10 countries across the Region. She also constituted eight flagship priority areas which became a gamechanger for advancing health and well-being of the people of the Region.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr Singh was recently honoured with the National Order of Merit Gold Medal by the King of Bhutan for her significant contributions to public health. She currently holds positions as a board member in numerous prestigious national and global institutions.</p>