Brazil endorses investigation into WHO Covid-19 response

The 2020 World Health Assembly — the annual meeting of the World Health Organization and the first since the start of the coronavirus crisis — began today. During the opening day’s schedule, proposals included measures such as increasing aid to the world’s worst-affected regions. One request, however, should raise controversy. A group of 60-plus countries, including Brazil, will file a resolution calling for an “impartial and independent” probe into the WHO’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the organization, announced that the WHO will reassess its work but asked for countries to do some soul-searching themselves. Many of those that supported the probe have been criticized for their own response — or lack thereof — to Covid-19, such as Brazil, or for not being transparent with their data, such as China.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been highly critical of the WHO, saying his administration has no business in following the guidelines, as Dr. Tedros “is not even a doctor.” However, he is a microbiologist and internationally recognized malaria researcher.

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