'Better Late Than Never,' quips Syed Akbaruddin as WHO launches Hindi Covid WhatsApp bot

India's Ambassor and Permanent Representative to United Nations Syed Akbaruddin on Friday took to Twitter to inform people about World Health Organisation's (WHO) messaging service in several langus including Hindi to spre awareness about Coronavirus. In a tweet in Hindi, Akbaruddin wrote from Thursday (USA time), World Health Organization will also answer in Hindi. "Write 'hello' (Namaste) and get information about coronavirus (COVID-19)," he ded.

'Better late than never'

However, outspoken Indian Ambassor also ded a wry dig at global health body for launching service late as global pandemic has created havoc around world. Akbaruddin wrote, "देर आए दुरुस्त आए" which translates to "Better late than never"

' potential to reach 2 billion people'

World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with WhatsApp and Facebook, launched dedicated messaging services that will provide facts on COVID-19 in various langus. On Thursday langus like Hindi, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian were ded in services. messaging service aims to provide information about virus - its symptoms, ways to protect mselves and ors to people around world.

It involves a simple process of sending 'hi' or 'नमस्ते' to +41 22 5017341 on WhatsApp. According to WHO press release, "This easy-to-use messaging service has potential to reach 2 billion people and enables WHO to get information directly into hands of people that need it."

messaging service comes at a time when WHO has come under criticism and has been threatened to have its funds from US frozen, by US President Donald Trump, who has accused it of being 'China-centric' and having got its response to outbreak to COVID wrong, citing a January statement that claimed that re was human-to-human transmission of Coronavirus. He has also taken umbr at it criticising some of his earlier measures to fight pandemic.

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China, meanwhile, on Thursday denied any cover-up in reporting initial information of vel coronavirus outbreak in December last as it put up a staunch defence of WHO chief Tedros ham Ghebreyesus, refuting US President Donald Trump's allegation that he was "very China-centric".

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