GENEVA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Margaret Chan, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) top bird flu official, was elected on Thursday to lead the United Nations agency. Here are five priorities the director-general outlined in her acceptance speech: AFRICA - "The people of Africa carry an enormous and disproportionate burden of ill health and premature death. The health of the people of Africa must therefore be the key indicator of the performance of WHO." WOMEN - Chan said women are vulnerable to health problems from indoor air pollution, infectious diseases, and violence, but can also be agents for change. "Reducing health problems in women and empowering them will result in a dramatic increase in health-promoting behaviours, right where it counts most." INFECTIOUS DISEASES - "Infectious diseases have staged a dramatic comeback. HIV, Ebola, SARS and avian influenza will not be the last bad surprises delivered by the ever-changing microbial world." PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS - "For outbreaks, the international community will not be securely defended until all countries have core surveillance and response capacities in place. The global surveillance system must have no gaps or weak spots." HEALTH WORKER MIGRATION - "As Director-General I will address, as a matter of urgency, the problem of outward migration of health staff. The problem is critical, but not insurmountable."
