Former New Zealand PM on COVID: It 'will happen again' if response remains 'flat-footed'

With coronavirus spreing across globe, New Zealand’s former PM Helen Clark reportedly warned that if world remains ‘flat-footed’ in its response to pandemics n countries will again face an ecomic, social and political crisis. Clark’s warning comes after World Health Organisation (WHO) appointed her and Liberia’s former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to le a panel scrutinising global response to COVID-19 pandemic. 

While speaking to an international media outlet, former New Zealand PM ted that this was sixth time in 17 years that WHO h declared a public health emergency. She reportedly warned that if world continues to be ‘flat-footed’ in response as it has been till w n y are in for ‘serious ongoing ecomic, social and political crisis’. While calling her new role as a panel member an ‘exceptionally challenging’ job, she also said that newly formed panel will be looking at how WHO has been able to le and if y have ‘right mechanisms’. 

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‘Cant be ar blue-ribbon panel’ 

On July 9, WHO anunced le members of panel. WHO chief Tedros ham Ghebreyesus reportedly even called both women, Clark and Ellen, ‘strong-minded, independent leers’. He ded that panel will help UN ncy in giving an ‘honest assessment’ and help leers understand what should be done to prevent such a trdy in future. 

While anuncing panel appointment, Tedros said, “ greatest threat we face w is t virus itself. Rar, it’s lack of leership and solidarity at global and national levels”. 

Furr, WHO chief also suggested that panel would have an independent ministration, update member states regularly on its progress and hold a monthly meeting. He said that new panel ‘cant be ar blue-ribbon panel’. He also ded that world must come toger in a global conversation to take ‘hard-won lessons’ and turn m into action. Tedros ded, “My hope is that defining crisis of our will likewise remind all people that best way forward and all only way forward is toger”. 

(Inputs: AP; Im: @HelenClarkNZ) 

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