New Delhi- Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan is all set to take charge as chairman of World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board on May 21.
The Executive Board meeting will be held in May 22. The Executive Board consists of 34 technically qualified members for 3 years term. The members states in current Executive Board are from :
Africa
Benin
Burkina Faso
Eswatini,
Gabon,
Kenya,
United Republic of Tanzania,
Zambia.
From Americas
Argentina,
Brazil,
Chile,
Grenada,
Guyana,
United States Of America.
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From South East Asia
Bangladesh,
Indonesia,
Sri Lanka.
From Europe
Austria,
Georgia,
Finland,
Germany,
Israel,
Italy,
Romania,
Tajikistan.
From Eastern Mediterranean
Djibouti
Iraq
Sudan
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
From Western Pacific
Australia
China
Japan
Singapore
Tonga
The chairman post is held rotation for one year among regional groups. The function of the Executive Board is to implement the policies and the decisions taken by the Health Assembly and facilitate its work.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had participated in 73rd World Health Assembly via Video Conferencing. “We, in India, undertook the COVID-19 challenge with the highest level of political commitment. Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, personally monitored the situation and ensured a pre-emptive, pro-active and graded response, leaving no stones unturned to contain the deadly virus from spreading,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
Vardhan would replace Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, as the Chairman of Executive Board. The proposal to appoint India’s nominee to the Executive Board was signed by 194 nation of World Health Assembly on Tuesday.
Dr Harsh Vardhan is an Otolaryngologist and is the incumbent minister at Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Earth Sciences in Narendra Modi led government.