New Delhi, Oct 1 : Kanuru Sujatha Rao, a 1974 batch officer of Indian Administrative Service from Andhra Pradesh Cadre, has assumed charge of Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, from today.

Sujatha Rao succeeds Naresh Dayal, who superannuated yesterday.

Rao brings rich administrative experience from the health sector to her present assignment.

She was Secretary, Department of AIDS Control and Director General National AIDS Control Organization before becoming Secretary, Health and Family Welfare.

She steered NACO during its most transformative and challenging phase. She has hands on experience of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as she had worked in the Ministry at Director, Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary levels and had been involved in many key initiatives that the Ministry has taken over the years.

A History Post Graduate, Ms K. Sujatha Rao also has a Post Graduate Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University where she was a Mason Fellow.

She was also Takemi Fellow for International Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. (ANI)