Samira Merai
Tunisian doctor and politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samira Merai Friaa (born 10 January 1963) is a Tunisian doctor and politician who served as Minister of Public Health from 2016 to 2017.
Samira Merai | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minister of Public Health | |
| In office 27 August 2016 – 12 September 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Youssef Chahed |
| Preceded by | Said Aidi |
| Succeeded by | Slim Chaker |
| Minister of Women, Family and Children | |
| In office 2 February 2015 – 27 August 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | Habib Essid |
| Preceded by | Saber Bouatay |
| Succeeded by | Néziha Labidi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1963 Zarzis, Tunisia |
| Party | Afek Tounes (2011–2012) Republican Party (2012–2013) Afek Tounes (since 2013) |
Early life and education
Merai was born on 10 January 1963 in Zarzis. She attended the technical high school in Medenine and obtained a degree in mathematics and science in 1981. She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Tunis in 1986, specialising in pulmonology.[1][2]
Career
Merai began working at the Abderrahmen-Mami Hospital in Aryanah in 1993. In 2003, she was appointed Associate Professor of Respirology at the Faculty of Medicine in Tunis. She is a member of the European Respiratory Society and the American Thoracic Society.[1]
Merai is a member of the Afek Tounes party and joined its central committee in May 2011.[1] She was elected to the Constituent Assembly for the constituency of Medenine on 23 October 2011.[2] On 1 February 2012, she was elected Deputy Speaker of the NCA.[3] After the dissolution of Afek Tounes, she became a member of the Republican Party, but resigned on 10 July 2013.[4] She was not re-elected at the 2014 legislative elections.
Merai served as the Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in 2014.[5]
On 2 February 2015, Merai was appointed Minister of Women, Family and Children in the government of Prime Minister Habib Essid.[2][3][6] On 20 August 2016, she was appointed Minister of Public Health in the cabinet of Youssef Chahed.[7][8][9]
Personal life
Merai is married and has three children.[2]