By Audrey Lotechukwu
MON, MAY 18 2020-theG&BJournal- The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Monday outlined WHO’s response actions to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He also called for a step-wise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of the proposed resolution which seeks to probe its response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The resolution was initiated jointly by sixty-two countries and the EU.
‘’To be truly comprehensive, such an evaluation must encompass the entirety of the response by all actors, in good faith,’’ Dr Tedros told member countries of the World Health Assembly in a virtual meeting.
The WHO DG said the world health body welcome the proposed resolution but noted that nobody needs a review ‘’to tell us that we must all do everything in our power to ensure this never happens again.’’
‘’Whatever lessons there are to learn from this pandemic, the greatest failing would be to not learn from them, and to leave the world in the same vulnerable state it was before. If there is anything positive to come from this pandemic, it must be a safer and more resilient world.’’
Dr Tedros said he will initiate an independent evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment to review experience gained and lessons learnt, and to make recommendations to improve national and global pandemic preparedness and response.
The WHO had faced criticisms for its response to the coronavirus pandemic culminating in the temporary withdrawal of its funding by the United State President, Donald Trump who expressed open dismay at its response to the outbreak.
Tedros outlined the steps the WHO took at the onset of the pandemic saying that it sounded the alarm early.
According to Dr Tedros, WHO notified countries, issued guidance for health workers within 10 days, and declared a global health emergency-the highest level of alert- on the 30th of January when there was less than 100 cases and no deaths outside China.
He also spoke to the technical guidance and strategic advice based on the latest science and experience as well as support given to countries to adapt and implement that guidance.
‘’And we have called consistently for the two essential ingredients for conquering this virus: national unity and global solidarity.’’
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