WHO to revamp its rapid emergency response

Member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have approved reforms that will increase the agency’s ability to respond effectively and rapidly to health emergencies.

During the World Health Assembly in Geneva, experts discussed how the new measures will help countries tackle emergencies such as Ebola, Yellow Fever and Zika virus.

WHO Director General, Margaret Chan, said outbreaks such as Ebola if not well managed can spiral out of hand and become a humanitarian crisis adding that WHO and its partners are working hard to manage the Zika virus.

WHO came under criticism over its delayed response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa that killed over 11,000 people.

With the new reforms, a health emergencies programme with its own equipped staff will be repatriated to areas of major outbreaks within 72 hours.

The delegates also agreed to put nearly $500 million in the programme for the 2016-2017 year, an increase of nearly 50 percent from prior emergency funding levels.

Press Agencies