The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the appointment of Liberia’s former president; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and New Zealand’s former prime minister to head a panel instituted to review the global response to Covid-19.
WHO chief, Dr. Tedros stated that member states of the World Health Organization agreed that; WHO an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the lessons learned from the international health response of COVID-19.
“With this mind, I am proud to announce that the former prime minister Helen Clark and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have agreed to serve as co-chairs of the evaluation committee which we are calling the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and response (IPPR)” He added.
He further stated that “this is time for self-reflection to look at the world we live in and to find ways to strengthen our collaboration; as we work together to save lives and bring this pandemic under control”.
Mrs. Sirleaf is noted for the key role he played by leading Liberia during the Ebola epidemic that began in 2014; killing more than 11,000 people in West Africa whilst Mrs. Clark equally led the United Nations Development Program. Her Country; New Zealand, has also been lauded for how successful they are handling the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization, these women’s selection was done through “a process of broad informal consultation with member states and world experts.”