Top figures in fight against Covid-19 quitting WHO

Two of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) most senior figures in the fight against Covid-19 are quitting, according to a letter from the WHO chief seen by AFP.

Indian paediatrician and clinical scientist Soumya Swaminathan is leaving her post as the WHO’S chief scientist, while Mariangela Simao of Brazil is departing as the UN health agency’s assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products.

The pair were among top WHO officials leading global efforts to coordinate the response to the pandemic when it was first detected in China in late 2019.

The departures were announced by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as part of a shakeup of his team following his re-election for a second five-year term in May.

“I would like to express my appreciation and respect to members of my senior leadership team whose appointments with WHO are coming to an end on Nov 30,” Tedros said in the letter on Tuesday.

Swaminathan and her team worked to keep up with and communicate the constantly-evolving science around Covid-19.

Simao often took the lead in explaining the search for vaccines and the WHO approval process.

Also going out are former French health minister Agnes Buzyn, Tedros’ multilateral affairs envoy; and former British government minister Jane Ellison, who is leaving as executive director for external affairs and governance.