Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO) for the term July 1998 - July 2003 has decided to step down at the end of her current term and not contest the forthcoming elections in January 2003, for the period from 2003-2008.

In a letter addressed to the chairman of the WHO Executive Board, she said her decision to complete work as Director-General at the end of the term reflects the fact that she has had leading positions in political and public office for nearly 30 years, and at the end of the second term she would be old enough at 69.

But she maintained that she would work every day until July 2003 and would continue to do everything she could to support the Organization and its noble cause in the future.

While in office, Dr Brundtland emphasized on her ambition to help anchor health firmly on the international development agenda. She also stressed on the priority of improving the health of the poor and even underlined the need for the WHO to reach out and mobilize a range of partners, based on solid evidence.