Will initiate independent evaluation at earliest appropriate moment: WHO chief on coronavirus pandemic
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During the video conference, President Xi said that China always has been transparent about the virus after the US, UK, Canada and Australia asked for an independent probe
World Health Organization(WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaking at the World Health Assembly through a video conference said that he will "initiate an independent evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment to review experience gained and lessons learned to improve national and global pandemic preparedness and response".
"The COVID-19 pandemic has tested, strengthened and strained the bonds of fellowship between nations, but it has not broken them," Tedros said.
"I will initiate an independent evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment to review experience gained & lessons learned & to make recommendations to improve national & global pandemic preparedness and response"-@DrTedros #WHA73
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 18, 2020
President Trump last month had stopped US funds to the UN health body after accusing it of "mismanaging" the crisis and had alleged that the health agency had a "China bias".
"Today I am calling on all nations to resolve that they will do everything it takes to ensure that the coronavirus pandemic is never repeated," the WHO chief said during the virtual conference.
"Whatever lessons there are to learn from the #COVID19 pandemic, the greatest failing would be to not learn from them & to leave the 🌍 in the same vulnerable state it was before"-@DrTedros #WHA73
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 18, 2020
The WHO had earlier announced it was ready for an independent probe into the origin of the virus with various countries whenever China allows.
During the video conference, President Xi said that China always has been transparent about the virus after the US, UK, Canada and Australia asked for an independent probe.
"The 🌍 does not lack the tools, the science, or the resources to make it safer from pandemics. What it has lacked is the sustained commitment to use the tools, the science and the resources it has.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 18, 2020
That must change, and it must change today"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #WHA73
"I am calling on all nations to invest in strengthening and implementing the many tools at our disposal – especially the global treaty that underpins global health security," Tedros said, adding,"since my election at this assembly three years ago, I have made a priority of transforming WHO into an organization that is agile and responsive, focused on outcomes and impact."
"However, much work remains to be done.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 18, 2020
Even before #COVID19, the world was off track for the @GlobalGoalsUN.
The pandemic threatens to set us back even further.
It exploits and exacerbates existing gaps in gender equality, poverty, hunger and more"-@DrTedros #WHA73
"The COVID-19 pandemic is posing a similar threat – not just to human health, but to the human spirit. We have a long road ahead in our struggle against this virus," the WHO chief added.