Ajuri Ngelale Steps Down as Presidential Spokesman
September 7, 2024Federal Government Promises Fuel Availability by Weekend
September 5, 2024WHO is needed more than ever – says Director General
WHO is needed more than ever – says Director General
![](https://integritynewsng.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG-20230408-WA0019.jpg)
As the world continues to battle various viruses and diseases, the World Health Organization has emphasized that every corner of the globe needs the UN health agency to fight emerging health issues and keep everyone safe.
The Director General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this while speaking on the occasion to celebrate the World Health Day which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WHO.
The director-general of the body said as COVID-19 has exposed so brutally, there remain serious gaps in the world’s defenses against epidemics and pandemics.”
The coronavirus, which has sickened over 762 million people worldwide and killed over 6.8 million, weighs heavily among the most severe health crises in a century.
Tedros notes that “life expectancy globally, for both sexes, has increased from 46 to 73 years, with the biggest gains in the poorest countries.”
“Smallpox has been eradicated and polio is on the brink,” he said.
Specifically on Coronavirus,the WHO boss said he has been relating with China to share information about the origins of COVID-19 because “without full access to the information that China has, you cannot say this or that.”
“All hypotheses are on the table,” he said. “That is WHO’s position and that is why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this.”
However, he emphasized that many challenges remain, especially with the emergence of new diseases and deadly pathogens, including Ebola, Marburg, SARS and COVID-19.
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide