It’s getting Worse, ‘COVID-19 has humbled all of us’ – WHO Chief

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has bemoaned the worsening scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world.

According to the WHO Chief, the world was not ready to face a pandemic of this magnitude, as attempts to control the outbreak has yielded little results.

“But still, despite all the warnings, the world was not ready.

Our systems were not ready.

Our communities were not ready.

Our supply chains collapsed.

It is time for a very honest reflection” he said in remarks to WHO Member States.

Mr Ghebreyesus expressed concerns about the deteriorating pandemic situation, noting that near 300 million persons risk going into abject poverty and hunger.

‘And around the world, in countries rich and poor, many more people are now going hungry, we can see poverty visibly now, with estimates from the World Food Programme that global hunger could increase to more than 270 million people. These are not numbers: these are people’.

In light of the devastating effects of the outbreak, the WHO Chief announced the initiation of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to evaluate the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said Panel will be co-chaired by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Prime Minister Clark went to on lead the United Nations Development Programme and President Sirleaf is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Operating independently, they will choose other Panel members as well as members of an independent secretariat to provide support. 

“Prime Minister Clark and President Sirleaf were selected through a process of broad consultation with Member States and world experts. I cannot imagine two more strong-minded, independent leaders to help guide us through this critical learning process.” said Dr. Tedros in his speech.

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At the historic 73rd World Health Assembly in May, Member States adopted a landmark resolution that called on WHO to initiate an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the lessons learned from the international health response to COVID-19.

“This is a time for self-reflection, to look at the world we live in and to find ways to strengthen our collaboration as we work together to save lives and bring this pandemic under control,” said Dr Tedros. “The magnitude of this pandemic, which has touched virtually everyone in the world, clearly deserves a commensurate evaluation.”   

Dr Tedros proposed that a Special Session of the Executive Board be called in September to discuss the Panel’s progress. In November the Panel will present an interim report at the resumption of the World Health Assembly.

In January 2021, the Executive Board will hold its regular session, where the Panel’s work will be further discussed; and in May of next year, at the World Health Assembly, the panel will present its substantive report.