May 20, 2020
New Delhi: At a time when the credibility of the World Health Organization (WHO) has plummeted to an all time low and internationally there’s a groundswell for new leadership, India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is all set to be the chairman of the WHO’s Executive Board. He has been elected to the post and will take charge this Friday itself, succeeding Japan’s Dr Hiroki Nakatani.
This all important Executive Board has 34 members who are technically qualified and represent their nations. All of the 34 are designated by their respective states in the World Health Assembly, which in this case was recently concluded where Harsh Vardhan made a long speech about India’s response to COVID-19 and how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown “leadership” benefiting not just India but the world.
In fact, the proposal to appoint India’s nominee to the executive board was signed by the 194-nation World Health Assembly.
While it has not been a sudden decision since last year itself WHO’s South East Asia group had decided that India would be elected to the Executive Board for three years from 2020, the timing is extremely crucial.
None less than US President Donald Trump has threatened to permanently halt funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) if it fails to commit to “substantive improvements” within 30 days. Trump also accused WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of bias towards China and alleged that the “only way forward for the WHO is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China,” in a letter to Tedros, the director-general of the WHO.
The world health body was forced to give its nod for a coronavirus probe, aimed to investigate China’s alleged role of hiding crucial details of COVID-19 from the world, after 61 countries had moved a resolution at the the WHO’s decision-making body asking for an “impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation”.
And now, with India taking the centrestage of its Executive Board, many see it as India’s stature rising internationally at a time when China’s alleged influence over the WHO has provoked much debate. IANS
Air pollution behind rising heart attacks in India: Experts
New Delhi: Air pollution not only affects the lungs but is also behind the increased heart attacks in the country, said public health experts on Friday. Poor air quality has...
After return to Earth, Sunita Williams undergoes rehabilitation
Washington: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have begun a 45-day rehabilitation program to help them adapt to Earth's gravity after spending nine months in space. The duo returned...
HKU1 not a new virus, less likely to cause any widespread infection: Experts
New Delhi: Even as the news of a woman in Kolkata being infected with Human Coronavirus HKU1 has raised fresh concerns, health experts on Monday said that the virus has...
H5N1 mutation in US dairy herds prompts caution on pandemic potential
Sacramento: Scientists are sounding the alarm about a concerning genetic mutation of the H5N1 bird flu virus, recently identified in four dairy cow herds, as this mutation could increase the...
Raj Thackeray questions cleanliness of Ganga while refusing to drink water brought from Kumbh
Pune: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray sounded skeptical of those who took a holy dip in Ganga during the recently-held Mahakumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh while...
Denied wheelchair, 82-year-old woman lands in ICU; Air India reacts
New Delhi: Even as the world celebrates International Women’s Day, an 82-year-old woman who was allegedly denied a wheelchair by Air India officials at the Delhi airport suffered a fall...
Osteoarthritis, associated disability rising over 130pc globally among women: Study
New Delhi: The global number of cases of osteoarthritis, as well as the disability associated with the condition, have risen by more than 130 per cent over the past 3...
Limit screen time, reduce gaming volume to prevent hearing loss in kids: Health Ministry
New Delhi: Limiting exposure to screens and reducing gaming volume is essential to prevent hearing loss in children, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on World Hearing Day...
Fight against obesity: PM Modi invites 10 prominent personalities to spread awareness
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited ten prominent personalities to join the national movement against obesity and promote awareness about healthy food consumption, aligning with his Fit...
Committed to reduce medical expenses for every Indian: PM Modi
Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the Central government is committed to reduce the medical expenses for every Indian, which has been a pressing issue, especially for...
Only 1 hour of daily screen use can up nearsightedness risk: Researchers
New Delhi: Here comes another warning for those who love to spend hours on digital screens. According to a new study, spending as little as one hour per day on...
Bengal reports another Guillain-Barre fatality, official toll rises to two
Kolkata: West Bengal on Saturday reported a death reportedly caused by the Guillain-Barre Syndrome, the second fatality in the state since January. The victim has been identified as Khairul Sheikh,...
