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World Health Organisation will continue to lead global fight against pandemic: Tedros

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: May 19, 2020, 09:05 PM IST
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World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Photograph:(AFP)

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during the two-day annual ministerial assembly also thanked many member states who have shown "support and solidarity" in the fight against COVID-19.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has vowed to lead the global war against novel coronavirus. According to Ghebreyesus, it  "threatens to tear at the fabric of international cooperation."

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during the two-day annual ministerial assembly also thanked many member states who have shown "support and solidarity" in the fight against COVID-19.

WHO director-general welcomed the European Union's resolution that was adopted by the World Health Organisation's 194 member states. The resolution calls for an independent evaluation of the international response, "including, but not limited to, WHO’s performance."

"We want accountability more than anyone," Tedros said. "We will continue providing strategic leadership to coordinate the global response" to the pandemic.

He did not respond to Donald Trump's threat to leave the WHO. 

Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to permanently halt US funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) if the body does not commit to "major substantive improvements" in the next 30 days.

In a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Trump said, "It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world. The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can demonstrate independence from China."

"My administration has already started discussions with you on how to reform the organization. But action is needed quickly. We do not have time to waste."

Trump also said that even after declaring Covid-19 outbreak, the WHO failed to press China for the timely admittance of a team of international medical experts.