contents
At the beginning of the pandemic, Tedros Ghebreyesus was controversial. Now the WHO Executive Board has recommended him for a second term.
In UN circles, the head of the World Health Organization is simply Doctor Tedros. He’s not a doctor at all. But the abbreviation is easier to remember than the full name of the 56-year-old Ethiopian: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
At the beginning of the corona pandemic, he was a controversial figure. Re-election seemed uncertain. His organization was criticized for acting too late and too hesitantly. Tedros Ghebreyesus contradicted: The WHO warned early and again and again.
Nevertheless, an independent panel of experts from the WHO, headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who suddenly found herself in the glare of the limelight, gave moderate grades.
She spoke of omissions and shortcomings on Australian broadcaster ABC. Others played directly on the man, exemplified by many attacks by the editor-in-chief of the Indian television station Wion News, Palki Sharma. Ghebreyesus and the WHO played down the pandemic crisis and were not prepared for it, it was said.
The then US President Donald Trump also fired broadsides at Ghebreyesus, as he had initially praised China’s effort against Corona in the highest tones. Thanks to Beijing’s decisive action, countless victims around the world have been prevented.
At a distance from Beijing
Professor Suerie Moon from the Center for International Health Policy at the Geneva Graduate Institute understands that the WHO Director-General initially curry favor with China. It was, she says, absolutely dependent on China’s cooperation in fighting the pandemic.
It’s impossible to please everyone as WHO chief, especially when geopolitical tensions shake the world
He later distanced himself from Beijing, called for independent investigations into what was happening in Wuhan and was criticized as “arrogant” by the Chinese regime. According to Suerie Moon, it is impossible to please everyone as WHO chief, especially when geopolitical tensions are shaking the world.
Ghebreyesus proved capable
In addition, when the pandemic began, the WHO was weakened, both financially and in terms of personnel. It lacked powers and independence from governments. But the organization pulled itself together and quickly took on a key role. Tedros Ghebreyesus proved to be a patient and increasingly credible communicator.
So successful that his re-election for another five years has now been secured. The Europeans, China and the USA as well as many third world countries are behind him. Spicy exception: His home country Ethiopia. There, the central government in the capital Addis Ababa has recently seen Ghebreyesus, who comes from the rebellious province of Tigre, as an enemy.
plans for the future
Should the post-corona era gradually begin, the WHO head will have to prioritize the sustainable strengthening of his authority in the future: the enormous expectations of it and its modest means diverge too far.
The WHO reform will be at least as difficult as the fight against the pandemic, because, according to Professor Suerie Moon, many states, especially the rich and powerful, are still unwilling to cede powers to the UNO organization, to set them up on a financially sound basis and thus strengthen them.
This virus has taught humanity one thing: humility.
Tedros Ghebreyesus is aware of this and says – in relation to the fight against corona and the WHO as an institution: “We still have a long way to go.” He adds soberly: This virus has taught humanity one thing: humility.