WHO launches inquiry into global responses to Covid-19

The World Health Organisation yesterday launched an independent inquiry into global responses to the pandemic, as its chief pleaded for international unity and for countries to learn lessons from the virus.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’S director-general, announced the new pandemic response panel would be chaired by Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the 81-yearold former president of Liberia.

The panel will be tasked with producing a report on responses to the pandemic by member states and the WHO itself, and will give its findings at a world conference next May.

“Through you, the world will understand the truth of what happened and also the solutions to build our future better as one humanity,” Dr Tedros said.

“Covid 19 has taken so much from us, but it is also giving us an opportunity to break from the past and build back better. I want us to see this as an opportunity. It’s a crisis, but opportunities are born from crisis.”

Ms Johnson Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her role in bringing women into the peace process. The rest of the panel will be selected by Ms Clark and Ms Johnson Sirleaf, but nominated by WHO member states.

The US has given notice it will leave the WHO, following months of criticism by Donald Trump, who has accused it of being controlled and misled by China. Dr Tedros said the biggest threat to world health was not coronavirus but “the lack of leadership and solidarity at the global and national levels”.