3. INTRODUCTION
WHO means world Health Organization. WHO
works worldwide to promote health, keep the
world safe, and serve the vulnerable. The World
Health Organization (WHO) is a leading
organization involved in the global coordination
for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic within the
broader United Nations response to the
pandemic.
On 5 January 2020, the WHO notified the world
about a "pneumonia of unknown cause" in China
and subsequently began investigating the
disease. On 20 January, the WHO confirmed
human-to-human transmission of the disease. On
30 January, the WHO declared the outbreak a
Public Health Emergency of International
Concern and warned all countries. On 11 March,
the WHO said the outbreak constituted a
pandemic. By 5 October of the same year, the
WHO estimated that a tenth of the world's
population had been infected with the novel
virus.
4. POSITIVE
ï± Helping countries to prepare and respond
has issued a COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which
identifies the major actions countries need to take, and the resources needed
to carry them out.
The plan, which is updated as fresh information and data improve WHOâs
understanding of the characteristics of the virus and how to respond, acts as a
guide for developing country-specific plans.
The health agencyâs six regional offices, and 150 country offices, work closely
with governments around the world to prepare their health systems for the
ravages of COVID-19, and to respond effectively when cases arrive and begin
to mount.
ï± Providing accurate information, busting dangerous myths
In the midst of this âinfodemicâ, WHO is producing accurate, useful guidance
that can help save lives.
This includes around 50 pieces of technical advice for the public, health
workers and countries, with evidence-based guidance on every element of the
response, and exploding dangerous myths.
The health agency benefits from the expertise of a global network of health
professionals and scientists, including epidemiologists, clinicians and
virologists, to ensure that the response is as comprehensive, authoritative and
representative as possible.
5. POSITIVE
ï±Ensuring vital supplies reach frontline health workers
Personal protective equipment is essential to ensure health professionals are able to
save lives, including their own. So far, WHO has shipped more than two million items of
personal protective equipment to 133 countries, and is preparing to ship another two
million items in the coming weeks. More than a million diagnostic tests have been
dispatched to 126 countries, in all regions, and more are being sourced.
However, far more is needed, and WHO is working with the International Chamber of
Commerce, the World Economic Forum, and others in the private sector, to ramp up the
production and distribution of essential medical supplies.
ï± Training and mobilizing health workers
WHO is aiming to train millions of health workers, via its Open WHO platform. Thanks to
this online tool, life-saving knowledge is being transferred to frontline personnel by the
Organization, and its key partners. Emergency Medical Teams are also an important part
of the global health workforce. These teams are highly trained, and self-sufficient, and
are sent to places identified as disaster or emergency zones.
ï± The search for a vaccine
Laboratories in many countries are already conducting tests that, it is hoped, will
eventually lead to a vaccine. In an attempt to corral these efforts, WHO brought together
400 of the worldâs leading researchers in February, to identify research priorities.
To better understand the virus, WHO has developed research protocols that are being
used in more than 40 countries, in a coordinated way, and some 130 scientists, funders
and manufacturers from around the world have signed a statement committing to work
with WHO to speed the development of a vaccine against COVID-19.
6. POSITIVE
Safe Hands Challenge
Safe Hands Challenge, a
campaign launched by WHO
that urges everyone to wash
their hands regularly, saw
participation from celebrities.
WHO has an active presence
on all social media channels,
where they work to counter
misinformation. In order to
counter myths related to
COVID-19, WHO has created
resources for the public.
7. CONTROVERCY
The Covid-19 pandemic was preventable, an independent review panel
has said.
The panel, set up by the World Health Organization, said the combined
response of the WHO and global governments was a "toxic cocktail".
The WHO should have declared a global emergency earlier than it did, its
report said, adding that without urgent change the world was vulnerable
to another major disease outbreak.
More than 3.3 million people around the world have now died of Covid.
While the US and Europe are beginning to ease restrictions and resume
some aspects of pre-pandemic life, the virus is still devastating parts of
Asia.
India in particular is seeing record-breaking numbers of new cases and
deaths, with severe oxygen shortages in hospitals across the country.
India in particular is seeing record-breaking numbers of new cases and
deaths, with severe oxygen shortages in hospitals across the country.
The panel argued that the WHO's Emergency Committee should have
declared the outbreak in China an international emergency a week earlier
than it did.
8. CONTROVERCY
Early in the COVID-19 epidemic, the World
Health Organization recommended that face
masks should only be used by health workers
and people with confirmed or suspected
coronavirus infection and their carers.
Certain news items then discouraged the use
of face masks . However, the WHO quickly
changed opinion, and in China, which was
reportedly very successful in containing the
COVID-19 epidemic, there was widespread
use of face masks, including by
asymptomatic people . Hand hygiene is
deemed the cornerstone of infection
prevention
10. CONTROVERSY
Claims that WHO turned blind eye to China's dissembling about its
outbreak suggest that WHO failed to act on information it had from
other resources.
Criticism of WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged
exactly in the context of these authorities. Claims that WHO turned
a blind eye to Chinaâs dissembling about its outbreak suggest that
WHO failed to act on information it had from other sources,
including the failure to share that information with other countries.
Critics pilloried WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus for declaring the COVID-19 outbreak in China a public
health emergency of international concern at a time and in a
manner that appeared indecisive and deferential to the Chinese
government. The explosion of travel restrictions that countries
implemented to counter COVID-19 prompted arguments that these
restrictions violated the IHR, violations that the WHO did not probe
despite having authority to do so. Complaints also arose about
WHOâs silence in the face of the human rights consequences of
harsh government responses, such as mandatory quarantine and
isolation measures.
11. CONCLUSION
In light of the significant criticism voiced against the WHO
since the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, this report
aimed to address how the WHO can enhance international
cooperation
to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to an outbreak of
an infectious disease, such as
COVID-19, slow its spread, and reduce its impact in the
future.
This report has analyzed and assessed the WHOâs actions in
response to the COVID-19
pandemic, reviewed lessons learned from previous health
crises, and included insights derived
from various interviews with senior WHO officials and other
global health professionals. On
this basis, it has identified particular issues and problems
regarding the WHOâs structure and
actions in response to health emergency situations that
warrant addressing for more stable and
robust global health governance in the future.