Dr. Laetitia J. King was appointed Regional Director of the Advanced Nursing Studies Programme (East Africa) in June 2003.

She is a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in Nursing Science from the University of South Africa, where, as Professor, she headed the Department of Advanced Nursing Sciences, and also the WHO Collaborating Centre for Postgraduate Distance Education and Research for Nursing and Midwifery Development. Dr. King has held faculty and management positions at several other institutions in South Africa.

Dr. King has been an international consultant and advisor for WHO and numerous other international organisations in the fields of midwifery, community nursing science, health services management and nursing education. Her areas of academic interest and expertise include nursing and midwifery education through distance learning, the development of human resources for health as well as community participation in health care delivery.