WHO set to choose new leader as 3 finalists promise reform May 23, 2017 - 18:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The World Health Organization was set to choose its new leader Tuesday, May 23, with the three finalists promising reform of the powerful agency experts say needs a massive shake-up, AFP reports. The race to succeed Hong Kong-born Margaret Chan as the UN's global health boss will be decided by secret ballot among WHO member-states in Geneva. Chan's decade-long tenure which ends on June 30 was notably marred by the fiercely-criticised response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. WHO was accused of missing key warning signs about the severity of an outbreak that began in December 2013 and ultimately killed more than 11,000 people. "We know that the next health emergency is not a question of 'if' but 'when'", US health secretary Tom Price said in Geneva before voting due to start. "When it happens the world will turn to the WHO for guidance and for leadership. We need to be sure it is up to the task," he told the Swiss Press Club. - The finalists - The finalists are former Ethiopian health minister Tedros Adhanom, British doctor and UN veteran David Nabarro and Pakistan's Sania Nishtar, also a former health minister who too led a respected non-government health organisation. The three are bidding to head perhaps the most influential United Nations agency, charged with emergency response and shaping baseline policies for treatment of major health challenges. Tedros would be the first African to lead the body and has unanimous public backing from the African Union. Nabarro has been buoyed by massive support from his native Britain and has touted his intimate knowledge of the UN system. Nishtar is seen by some observers as a long-shot but has been praised for a strong performance through the long campaign. Voting was due to begin shortly after 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) but it may take several rounds and many hours to produce a winner, given WHO's complex voting system. The organisation officially has 194 member-states, but only 186 nations were eligible to cast ballots Tuesday due to no-shows and voting rights stripped because of unpaid UN dues. Tuesday marks the first time countries will get to choose the WHO chief. Previously the executive committee offered one candidate for states to rubber stamp. Related links:   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates  Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan.Armenia not going to war over Karabakh, says Pashinyan Armenia is not preparing to fight a war for Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview. |
