Taiwan barred from WHO meet despite Eswatini support
MBABANE – Eswatini’s effort to retain Taiwan’s position in the United Nations (UN) and its agencies has proved futile again.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently hosting the World Health Assembly (WHA). The 76th WHA started on Sunday and is expected to last until next Tuesday. The focus of the assembly is pandemic preparedness and funding. Eswatini is represented by the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Simon Zwane, Director of Health Services, Dr Velephi Okello and Chief Nursing Officer Gloria Msibi.
The meeting, which was aimed at discussing health finances, turned political on Monday as the WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that Taiwan would again be barred from attending its annual assembly as an observer.
Decision
WHO due to China’s actions threatened global health.
“Excluding Taiwan from the WHO not only jeopardises the right to health of the 23.5 million people of Taiwan; it also seriously undermines the WHO’s efforts to achieve health for all and also hinders the global sharing of information,” Hsueh said.
The United States (US) Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told the assembly that the US would continue to strongly support Taiwan’s meaningful participation at the WHA and in the WHO’s work more broadly.
Later
The WHA limited debate on the matter and later said one of its committees decided not to extend Taiwan an invitation to the event.
On Monday, delegates from China and Pakistan were allowed to speak in favour of rejecting Taiwan’s inclusion, while Eswatini and the Marshall Islands spoke in its favour.
Separately, two reporters from Taiwan’s Central News Agency, who had been accredited to cover the May 21 to May 30, were told on Monday they would not be allowed to claim their press passes, the CNA reported. A UN staff member blamed the move on China.