Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde has joined the chorus of support for WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom.
“WHO under Dr Tedros effective leadership, are delivering on their mandate at a time we need them most. Let’s give them the space,” she tweeted.
Her remarks came following the US government’s accusation of WHO of being biased in favour of China in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Our global priority is to save lives. COVID-19 is killing many. We must support and protect the most vulnerable. Now is not the time for blame game,” President Sahle-Work said.
Several African leaders also rejected the criticism by the US president on the UN health agency.
The presidents of Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria and Namibia, along with Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the UN Secretary General rallied in support of WHO.
“Surprised to learn of a campaign by the U.S. government against WHO’s global leadership,” said a tweet by Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
He said the African Union fully supports the WHO and its Director-General. “The focus should remain on collectively fighting COVID-19 as a united global community. The time for accountability will come.”
Later he added: “I certainly do not imply that it is WHO or Dr. Tedros that need to account in this regard.”
Rwandan President Paul Kagame tweeted that he totally agreed with the African Union leader. He said Dr. Tedros had the “full confidence and support of Africa.” He added: “Save us [from] too much politics, Africa does not need it.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a tweet that the WHO is providing “exceptional” and “incalculable” leadership, adding that international solidarity is “the most potent weapon” against the pandemic.
Namibian President Hage Geingob added his support for the WHO and Dr. Tedros. “Global solidarity has become critical,” he said on Twitter. “Let’s hold hands in this crucial moment and focus on what matters, saving lives.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed his support for the WHO, calling it “absolutely critical” to the war against the coronavirus.
He said the WHO’s response can be debated after the pandemic is over. “Now is not that time. Now is the time for unity.”
Commenting on the accusation by the US government, Dr Tedros said “For us small and big is the same. For us people in the North or in the South, East or West are the same”.
Dr Tedros said he has been targeted with racist attacks and death threats as the agency became embroiled in an increasingly polarized and heated political environment worldwide.
He said the personal attacks on him began more than two months ago. “Abuse, or racist comments, giving me names, black or Negro … even death threats.”
He called for a “quarantine” on divisive political attacks on the novel coronavirus response. “If you don’t want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it,” he said.
He called for global solidarity, warning the world’s countries that they would be “playing with fire” if they try to exploit the pandemic for political purposes.
“If you don’t believe in unity, please prepare for the worst to come.”
