WHO Executive Board - Dr Harsh Vardhan accepts Chair
Published: May 23, 2020
By TIOLCORPLAWS News Service
NEW DELHI, MAY 23, 2020: THE Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has been elected as Chair of the Executive Board of World Health Organization for the year 2020-21. This took place yesterday during the 147th session of the Executive Board, in a meeting that was virtually held. He has replaced Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan.
Accepting the Chair of the Executive Board, Dr Harsh Vardhan paid tribute to the lakhs of people who have lost their lives due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. He requested all dignitaries present on the occasion to give a standing ovation to all the frontline health workers and other COVID Warriors by saluting their dignity, determination and dedication.
"I feel deeply honoured to have the trust and faith of all of you. India, and all my countrymen, too, feel privileged that this honour has been bestowed upon us", he stated.
Acknowledging that this is a great human tragedy and the next two decades may see many such challenges, he stated that "All these challenges demand a shared response, because these are shared threats requiring a shared responsibility to act."He further added that "while this is the core philosophy of our alliance of member nations that comprise WHO, however, it needs a greater degree of shared idealism of nations." He said that, "The pandemic has made humanity acutely aware of the consequences of ignoring the strengthening and preparedness of our healthcare systems. In such times of global crisis, both risk management and mitigation would require further strengthening of global partnerships to re-energize interest and investment in global public health."
Dr Harsh Vardhan also shared India's experience of combating COVID-19. He noted that "We have a mortality of 3 per cent only. In a country of 1.35 billion, there are only 0.1 million cases of COVID19. The recovery rate is above 40 per cent and the doubling rate is 13 days."
