Former WHO Chief Urged Org To Change Protocols Leading To Opposing Travel Restrictions
WHO URGED TO CHANGE PROTOCOLS – The World Health Organization had previously drawn flack from several nations due to alleged delays in important warnings.
One of the most vocal countries against WHO was the United States who even withdraw its support from the body. Previously, the US had accused WHO of delaying and downplaying the severity of the virus causing countries to disregard travel bans during the early stages of the disease.
READ: Trump Trashes Ties With WHO Over Alleged Failures During Pandemic
This time, it was the organizations former chief, Gro Harlem Brundtland that urged them to change the protocols that led to the delays. Brundtland now heads an independent watchdog that surveys the international body.
According to an article from GMA, Brundtland heavily disagreed with the US’ decision to withdraw its support from the body. However, he did acknowledge that the WHO needed to review its guidelines known as the International Health Regulations.
One of the concerning guidelines was a regulation that discouraged the restrictions of trade and travel during epidemics. To recall, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, the WHO had vocally stated that countries should not seize travel just yet.
As per the article, Brundtland stated that the guidelines:
need reform and we will propose reforms because we have seen weaknesses very clearly.
In the whole process of formulating and agreeing on the International Health Regulations, many countries were adamant to try to avoid air and travel restrictions.
Additionally, he said that China was maybe days or weeks late in communicating with WHO regarding information about the new virus. Finally, he said that Trump’s decision to quit WHO was the “most astonishingly and transparently counterproductive” of all of his decisions.
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