Latest alleged comments by Pompeo (US Sec of State) in the UK are blame-shifting- Trump administration rattled by upcoming 2020 Elections with its appalling COVID-19 response resulting in a high number of cases, deaths & unemployment. Are these attacks on WHO fair? (thread)
WHO was established in 1948 as the chief director and coordinator of international health work in the United Nations. It has 3 functions with outbreaks.
First, its International Health Regulations require countries to report outbreaks (China did on 30th Dec), share this info with the world (5th Jan) & it can raise the highest level of alarm-PHEIC (30th Jan). At that point up to countries to prepare (or not to prepare)
Second, technically, it shares data between countries including standards, guidelines and key health information. It got the sequencing from China in early Jan & immediately shared with countries to help them build test kits.
Third, it convenes all member states which it did successfully this May at the World Health Assembly. The imperative is to keep all countries at the table to find a mutually beneficial way forward. COVID-19 has shown the inter-connected nature of health threats.
While it can advise, support and encourage countries, it cannot go into countries to change policies, investigate the source of outbreaks, or penalise bad behaviour. WHO is a member state organization & can only do what it is mandated to do. Read #GoverningGlobalHealth for more.
