Continue from here
‘ANON-YYZ – at 13:02
Monotreme – at 12:47
I agree, that’s why no one else really wants to take the helm of the WHO when the pandemic hits - a fall guy in the making.
May be even China knows this - it’s a price of admission into the G8 reach out program.
“It’s not going to be pretty. You take the fall, we’ll will give you more business to keep the factories humming.”
ANON-YYZ – at 13:02
‘’I agree, that’s why no one else really wants to take the helm of the WHO when the pandemic hits - a fall guy in the making. May be even China knows this - it’s a price of admission into the G8 reach out program. “It’s not going to be pretty. You take the fall, we’ll will give you more business to keep the factories humming.”’‘
If governments thought that far ahead, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in. I’m sticking with my “dumb” hypothesis.
Time to revive this thead.
UN health agency announces 13 nominees to become next Director-General
6 September 2006 – The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today unveiled the names of the 13 nominees proposed by Member States to replace the late Lee Jong-wook as Director-General of the Geneva-based agency.
Fernando Antezana Araníbar, Chairman of WHO’s Executive Board, announced the list of nominations after the deadline for submissions passed yesterday. The nominees’ curricula vitae will now be circulated among the organization’s 192 Member States.
A shortlist of candidates will be drawn up by the 34-member Executive Board during its meeting in Geneva from 6–8 November, and those candidates will be interviewed. The Executive Board will then choose one candidate by secret ballot and submit that name to the World Health Assembly for a vote on 9 November.
Here’s a list of the 13:
Monotreme,
Thank you.
Who do you think are the frontrunners?
Does anybody hae a list of the Executive Board members?
http://www.who.int/governance/eb/en/index.htmlMEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND TERM OF OFFICE
The Executive Board is composed of 34 persons who are technically qualified in the field of health, each designated by a Member State that has been elected to serve by the World Health Assembly. Member States are elected for three-year terms.
The affiliations appear in the style and the language used by the corresponding member of the Board.
AFGHANISTAN 2006–2009 Dr F. Kakar Deputy Minister of Policy, Planning and Preventive Medicine Ministry of Health Kabul
AUSTRALIA 2004–2007 Ms J. Halton Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing Canberra, ACT
AZERBAIJAN 2005–2008 Mr O.K. Shiraliyev Minister of Health Baku
BAHRAIN 2004–2007 Dr N.A. Haffadh Minister of Health Manama
BHUTAN 2005–2008 Dr J. Singay Minister of Health Thimphu
BOLIVIA 2004–2007 Dr. F. Antezana Araníbar Ministro de Salud y Deportes La Paz
BRAZIL 2004–2007 Dr P.M. Buss President, Fiocruz Foundation Rio de Janeiro
CHINA 2006–2009 Dr Ren Minghui Deputy Director-General Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Health Beijing
DENMARK 2006–2009 Dr J.K. Gøtrik Chief Medical Officer National Board of Health Copenhagen
DJIBOUTI 2006–2009 M. A.A. Miguil Minsitre de la Santé Djibouti
EL SALVADOR 2006–2009 Dr J.G. Maza Brizuela Ministro de Salud San Salvador
IRAQ 2005–2008 Dr A.H.I. Al-Shammari Minister of Health Baghdad
JAMAICA 2004–2007 Dr B. Wint Chief Medical Officer Kingston
JAPAN 2005–2008 Dr H. Shinozaki President, National Institute of Public Health Tokyo
KENYA 2004–2007 Dr J. Nyikal Director, Medical Services Preventive and Promotive Health Services Ministry of Health Nairobi
LATVIA 2006–2009 Dr V. Jaksons Adviser to the Director Health Statistics and Medical Technologies State Agency Riga
LESOTHO 2004–2007 Dr M. Phooko Minister of Health and Social Welfare Maseru
LIBERIA Dr W.T. Gwenigale Minister of Health and Social Welfare Monrovia
LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA 2004–2007 Dr A.H. Saheli Deputy Secretary, General People’s Committee for Health and Environment Tripoli
LUXEMBOURG 2004–2007 Dr D. Hansen-Koenig Directeur de la Santé Ministère de la Santé Luxembourg
MADAGASCAR 2005–2008 Dr R.R. Jean Louis Ministre de la Santé et du Planning familial Antananarivo
MALI 2006–2009 Dr Z.M. Youba Ministre de la Santé Bamako Koulouba
MEXICO 2005–2008 Mr. M. Bailón González Director General de Relaciones Internacionales Secretaría de Salud Mexico DF
NAMIBIA 2005–2008 Dr K. Shangula Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Services Windhoek
PORTUGAL 2005–2008 Professeur J. Pereira Miguel Haut Commissaire de la Santé Lisboa
ROMANIA 2004–2007 Mr E. Nicolaescu Ministère de la Santé Bucarest
RWANDA 2005–2008 Dr J.D. Ntawukuliryayo Ministre de la Santé publique Kigali
SINGAPORE 2006–2009 Dr B. Sadasivan Senior Minister for Health Singapore
SLOVENIA 2006–2009 Dr B. Voljč Director, National Blood Transfusion Centre Ljubljana
SRI LANKA 2006–2009 Mr N.S. de Silva Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Colombo
THAILAND 2004–2007 Dr Suwit Wibulpolprasert Senior Public Health Officer, Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Health Bangkok
TONGA 2004–2007 Dr V. Tangi Minister of Health Nuku’alofa
TURKEY 2006–2009 Profesor S. Aydin Deputy Under-Secretary Ministry of Health Ankara
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2006–2009 Dr J. Agwunobi Assistant Secretary for Health Department of Health and Human Services Washington DC
And now, some unflattering stories about Margaret Chan, number 13 on my rank-ordered list.
Chan vows to serve world, not China
China’s decision to nominate Chan for the post on July 25 was a surprise as it is unusual for permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to nominate candidates for top jobs in the UN, of which the WHO is an agency.
Don’t drink milk while you read the next sentence, it will come snorting out your nose.
Chan said China had nominated her because it wanted to make a bigger contribution to global public health.
If milk is now snorting out your nose, it’s not my fault.
Since China has been widely accused of covering up disease outbreaks such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, Chan was asked if she would be tough on Beijing should there be another cover-up.
“No way”, said Chan, “Do I look stupid? Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life rotting in a gulag with every other honest bureaucrat in China?”
OK, she didn’t really say that. But I bet she thought it. Instead, she said:
“If elected, I am required to serve the world population. I am not only serving China. I have to demonstrate that I will be fair and transparent and deal with each issue on its merits,” she said, adding Beijing is fully aware of her impartial attitude.
That would be funny if our lives weren’t at stake.
When she was asked to pinpoint the reported inadequacies of China and Hong Kong in combating outbreaks, she chose to comment on the general situation in developed and developing countries, saying “many emerging new diseases pose different challenges” and cited the importance of a good surveillance and reporting system.
Well, we can expect alot more of that when she’s DG. Shall we start taking up a collection for Julie Hall? She will join Maria Cheng in looking for a new job the second Chan becomes DG.
At the time, Chan was accused of mishandling the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong which infected 1,755 people and killed 299.
Outside the Legislative Council building Wednesday, a relative of a SARS patient who died, held up a placard calling on Chan to apologize and admit her blunders.
But Chan said it was important to move on. “I have apologized for this on different occasions. Of course, we take criticism. But the key is to learn from the lesson and then apply it to future work.”
And indeed she has. Suck up to the PRC and they’ll get you a job running the WHO, no matter how many people your incompetence kills. Those annoying grieving relatives with their futile signs. Really, do they think anyone remembers? Not the New York Times, not anyone in the Western media. They run puff pieces commenting on what a great record she has. Morons.
Nightowl, thank you. That was fast.
anon_22, you are welcome.
like most people, I think Margaret Chan has it sewn up. I personally would vote for Omi, but Japan had a DG recently. I don’t think anyone else really cares, so China will get its way.
You’re welcome, anon_22. Sorry I messed up the link. Hope this one works.
Revere has a nice post on Effect Measure:
China and choosing a new WHO Director General
Do we have a favorite? No. But we have some opinions. Within WHO, Margaret Chan is considered a frontrunner because of her excellent interpersonal skills, the strong championship of China and the belief of many that China’s stake in her candidacy will enable her to be more effective with this difficult member state. This is a reasonable argument, but we don’t buy it. In fact, China’s sponsorship of Chan we view as a negative, just as we would view any candidate championed by the US. If US Ambassador John Bolton, who cares little for the United Nations, thinks candidate X should be DG, it is our view this is sufficient to disqualify candidate X. And if China wants Margaret Chan, it isn’t because they think she will be a tough DG who will push hard for transparency. China doesn’t believe in the virtues of transparency, and with Beijing being the site of the 2008 Olympic Games their word is even less trustworthy (if that is possible). It is hard not to suspect China wants Chan because they think she is more controllable, by virtue of culture, manner or diplomatic tendencies.
Monotreme,
It’s not a done deal. I’m counting the votes, looks like she will get it. But a lot can happen between now and November.
Monotreme – at 23:55
You know who will really celebrate should Margaret Chan gets elected?
Answer, U.S. HHS Secretary Leavitt. Well, you can add NYC Bloomberg et al.
The fact of the matter is, TPTB in the U.S. (and in Canada) missed the chance to face the threat for years, with lies after lies, and now it’s too little too late. Their only solution is a convenient scape goat called the WHO. Politicians with failed domestic policies often divert attention to international issues. If you make enough noise, people will forget about problems you caused in their backyard and look for blame elsewhere.
Monotreme. Tell us what you really think. Yahooooooooooooo.
Race to fill WHO top job begins in earnest
Critics contend the system of selecting the global health agency’s head lacks transparency, opening the door to a situation where the trading of political favours - rather than the merits of the candidates and the needs of the WHO - could carry the day.
Ya think?
“I think everybody is aware that the system is open to huge corruption at the moment,” Dr. Richard Horton, editor of the medical journal The Lancet, said in an interview Monday.
C’mon Dr. Horton, spill.
“It’s pretty clear to me that there are some candidates who really shouldn’t have an opportunity to get the WHO DG (director general) job, but they will be strong candidates because of their governments and what their governments can do for them.
He must be talking about the Ecuadorian nominee, right?
Within the WHO itself, Chan - the highly personable former public health head from Hong Kong - is seen by some as a leading candidate.
I really like Helen Branswell’s articles, but I wish she would ask the grieving relative with the placard that I mention at at 23:53 if they find Dr. Chan “highly personable”.
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
“Hong Kong’s former health chief Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun is confident of winning the World Health Organization’s top job, claiming she has secured support from “some countries.”
In a telecast Tuesday from Geneva, where she is now based, Chan said: “I have met top officials in 15 countries in the past three weeks and they have given me very positive feedback.
“Most of them expressed support for my candidacy. Personally, I’m very confident I’ll win.” more….
You would think she was running for an elected office in a political party…humility, exactly what we need in the WHO.
Yeah, it just goes to show how truly political it all is. Out campaigning - amazing.
Nightowl – at 00:48, thanks for the link.
Chan’s comment that: Personally, I’m very confident I’ll win
Is disgusting and unseemly on so many levels.
Well, since this is clearly a political contest, those of us who think Chan would make a terrible DG ought to use the political tools at our disposal. Time to contact our representatives let them know we want our countries to *not* support her candidacy. A vote for Chan is a vote for more coverups in China.
Here’s an older article from July 31, but it gives an idea of the full court press being conducted by the Chinese government.
…”Vice Minister of Health Huang Jiefu, who was on a visit to Hong Kong, said Chan’s records were there for the public to see, saying her candidacy was not her “personal business” but a matter of national interest.”…
It is frightening to see the phrase “matter of national interest” from a government that has repeatedly withheld information, sequences, virus samples, etc.
Nightowl– at 08:45, you’re exactly right.
And if our governments roll over for this, we need to punish them in the polls. I want to know my representatives’ position on the WHO. They probably don’t have one because they don’t know who the WHO is, but that just means we need to educate them.
Oh, and we can add that when they do release anything, it is never independently verified by an outside WHO lab, unlike other countries. (a thank you to anon_22 for pointing this out to me)
BTW, in the article at 08:45, there is a little cartoon in the upper, righthand corner worth seeing. We are not the only ones who are worried. (Thank you, pogge, for fixing the link that I messed up.)
Edna Mode at 09:28 on the news thread has posted an article today that says Indonesia will be doing the same as China now - confirming cases without sending samples out for a second verification. They will do two rounds within the country. My statement at 09:01 needed to be updated with this information.
From Helen Branswell’s article posted on EffectMeasure
Chan, the well-liked former director of health for Hong Kong (and a graduate of the University of Western Ontario), surprised observers when she said in interviews Tuesday that she was confident she’d win the race. In an e-mail exchange Wednesday, she softened that bold statement.
“It is a very fierce competition indeed with so many strong candidates and factors affecting the voting decision,” Chan said.
I recall reading somewhere that Margaret Chan and Richard Schabas were colleagues, or that Chan had been Schabas’ student or vice versa?? - This purported association makes me VERY concerned about Canada’s Pandemic Preparedness Planning (which is going so slowly as to be non-existent) mostly because Schabas’ opinion is so highly regarded by Fed Ministry of Health Tony Clement from their ‘shared’ Toronto SARS management days. Schabas, as Ontario-ans may recall, is a noted naysayer - and Clement still listens to him!! So falls the country!!
…oh - and I dont like CHAN much for WHO either!!
Should WHO chief save face or save lives? By SIMON LEE (link http://tinyurl.com/epd3g )
Hong Kong _ Yesterday was the closing date for candidates to lead the World Health Organisation. Let’s hope that when elections are held in November, they find someone with the character to tackle both new transnational health threats such as avian flu, and persistent killers such as diarrhoea, TB, malaria and Aids. Unfortunately, at least one candidate has already shown signs that she might not have what it takes.
One of the favourites to replace the late Dr Lee Jong Wook, who died suddenly in May, is China’s candidate Margaret Chan. Currently in charge of the WHO’s response to avian flu, she was also director of health in Hong Kong from 1994 to 2003, a period that coincided with the emergence of both avian flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome or Sars.
As avian flu marches up the global political agenda, her experience in these two roles should make her a shoo-in. After all, the World Bank has just announced that Indonesia’s economy has already been affected by bird flu and the WHO is the only agency with the skills and mandate to coordinate the response to this kind of pandemic health threat. What could be better than a leader who already has a track record of dealing with them?
The problem is Dr Chan’s past actions show her to be more concerned with saving face than saving lives, an unsuitable candidate for a position that requires honesty, accountability and genuine leadership.
Take the Sars outbreak of 2003. Dr Chan was then chief health adviser to the Hong Kong government and responsible for determining strategy. Although the outbreak came to an end fairly swiftly, it killed a total of 298 people in Hong Kong.
A subsequent enquiry by the Hong Kong legislature concluded that Dr Chan’s response to the Sars outbreak was unsatisfactory, condemning her for not attaching sufficient importance to soft intelligence on the epidemic and not taking account of the heavy passenger flow between Guangdong and Hong Kong.
If Dr Chan had announced the epidemic in Guangdong in the two months before the outbreak arrived in Hong Kong, hospitals would have had time to prepare. Instead, Hong Kong’s hospitals acted like an incubator for the disease before it spread out into the community.
More egregiously, Dr Chan spent the vital early days of the outbreak wrangling with the WHO over its choice of the name for the disease: Sars.
This choice was coincidentally similar to the official abbreviation for Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region (SAR). Instead of immediately setting in train the necessary procedures to tackle the outbreak, Dr Chan wasted time trying to save China’s face by protesting against the name Sars.
Without this delay many lives could have been saved.
Dr Chan’s handling of avian flu in Hong Kong was equally inept. When the H5N1 virus was first identified in 1997, nobody knew if it could spread to humans. Dr Chan sought to reassure a jittery public by declaring, I eat chicken every day.
However, as it emerged that poultry were dying in great quantities, the Department of Food Hygiene decided to intervene before a crisis developed. Even though Dr Chan had famously told everyone to carry on eating chicken, the Hong Kong government slaughtered approximately 1.6 million and banned all chicken imports.
So it was actually the head of the Department of Food Hygiene who took the tough decision that risked embarrassing Beijing. Dr Chan, meanwhile, was more concerned about saving her boss’s face than with protecting public health.
China is at the centre of a number of emerging health threats. In addition to avian flu, for which honesty and openness from China will be absolutely vital if a devastating global pandemic is to be prevented, China has a burgeoning Aids problem which threatens millions of people. However, censorship and the restriction of free speech has meant that these two diseases have either been underplayed or officially disavowed in China, denying people the knowledge needed to protect themselves.
If Dr Chan held the top job at the WHO, China would effectively have carte blanche to continue the deceptions and ignorance on which infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids and avian flu thrive.
Avian flu is perhaps the biggest communicable disease threat facing the world. To defeat it and to defeat the many other existing diseases and emerging threats will require accountability and honesty from the WHO, the only agency that has the ability to coordinate action on a global scale.
Dr Chan’s past actions in dealing with avian flu have shown her to be more concerned with politics than public health. WHO member states could save face now by electing someone else.
Simon Lee is a Hong Kong-based analyst and a columnist for Apple Daily
Great- yet another component of ‘The Perfect Storm’ slips into place-international incompetence, exploding virii soups, horrible conditions in the Middle East…
News
France’s candidate for WHO top job wants to make health body more “‘visible”
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Bernard Kouchner, France’s former health minister who co-founded Doctors Without Borders, said Tuesday he wanted to raise the profile of the World Health Organization by drawing on his experience from extensive field work.
[snip]
Kouchner was part of a group of French doctors who in 1971 founded Medecins Sans Frontieres. The group won the 1999 Nobel Peace prize for its medical relief work in more than 80 countries.
“The most important part of my knowledge comes from the field,” said Kouchner, who was in the Danish capital to promote his candidacy at the annual meeting of top health officials from the WHO’s European region. The group includes 52 members, from Greenland in the north, Mediterranean nations to the south and Russia’s Pacific shores.
“I was a free, flexible, inventive and an anarchist NGO,” Kouchner told reporters of his field work. “I am still acting with that kind of spirit.”
Kouchner is the guy I wish the WHO would nominate. Doctors without Borders is successful and I donate to it yearly because I feel like the cash actually goes to people not bureacracy. I say let the man with the dirty boots win.
is something known about their intend to raise the pandemic level to “4″ ? I remember their was a conference about this after the Karo-cluster. Did the candidates vote or give interviews about their opinions ?
I came across this rather accidentally, and thought I should post it here. This is an article from the Bangkok post written by Jeffrey Koplan, former director of the US CDC, who was a member of the SARS review committee for Hong Kong. Members of this committee are listed here, and includes Harvey Fineberg, President of the Institute of Medicine, Sir Cyril Chantler of the King’s Fund, UK, and Sian Griffiths of the Royal College of Physicians UK, among others.
FOCUS / THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION Smear campaign mars race for WHO chief’s post Bangkok Post 5 October 2006
By DR JEFFREY KOPLAN
The race for the top job at the World Health Organisation has, for the first time, gone negative, which threatens a thoughtful selection process. November’s election of the next director-general of the World Health Organisation may be the UN agency’s most critical.
<snip>
Unfortunately, an effort appears to have been mounted to malign one of these people.
Never before has any director-general candidate been attacked so personally, and so publicly as is now happening to Margaret Chan, China’s nominee.
A series of news articles and opinion pieces started to appear recently challenging her credibility, dedication, competence and accomplishments. This kind of mudslinging is a new and unfortunate development in the competition for this post.
And many of the accusations are wrong. I know because I investigated Dr Chan’s actions as part of a public inquiry into Hong Kong’s response to severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). There is simply no evidence for the scurrilous allegations. These personal attacks distort history and run counter to several objective investigations and reviews that establish her competence and leadership.
My role here is not to defend or promote Dr Chan. She needs no defence beyond a fair reading of her record. My concern is that these tactics of personal attack have no place in a decision so vital to global public health.
Now, especially, the world needs the most capable people to address the challenges before us. Dr Chan is one of those people, as are others in the race for WHO’s top job. All of them need to be considered fairly, on their merits, or we all will lose.
The writer was director of the US Centres for Disease Control, and a member of the Sars Review Committee for Hong Kong in 2005.
Note that this SARS review committee was the expert’s committee, ie the scientific not political evaluation, which was mentioned on part 1 of this thread.
WHO needs to more transparent to attract funds: Dr Bernard Kouchner
Dr Bernard Kouchner, France’s candidate for the post of Director General of the World Health Organization or WHO, is in Singapore to rally support from the Singapore government.
Singapore is one of the voting countries on the WHO’s executive board.
Dr Kouchner was a former French health minister, founder of Doctors Without Borders which was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize, and head of the UN’s Kosovo mission in 1999.
[snip]
With regards to the Avian Flu, he said the danger seems to be controlled for now, adding that “some are complaining that we developed a pathologic attitude towards what was not threatening us, but I don’t think so, we must maintain our defences”.
Dr Kouchner also pointed out that WHO lacked transparency which he says is why it lacks funds.
[snip]
Dr Kouchner said: “To get money, you need confidence, and the people are not so confident because of the lack of transparency in such a system. We have to work with the other UN agencies and at the same time, to work with the foundations, to work with the NGOs. There is a lot of money all around the world because of the generosity of men like Mr Clinton or Mr Gates - if you offer them transparency, and if you prove that you are working well, with efficiency, you will find the money.”
WHO Western Pacific chief vows to make bird flu priority if elected director-general
HANOI, Vietnam He has battled SARS and bird flu in Asia and says the world would be in experienced hands during a flu pandemic if he became head of the World Health Organization.
Shigeru Omi of Japan, currently WHO’s Western Pacific regional director, is among 13 candidates nominated by their countries to fill the top job after Director-General Lee Jong-wook died unexpectedly in May two years before his term was up.
[snip]
“Pandemic preparedness is my first commitment,” Omi told The Associated Press by phone from Sri Lanka, where he was campaigning this week. “The virus may change all of a sudden so that a human pandemic may happen. That’s why we have to prepare ourselves for the worst-case scenario.
If I had a vote, Omi would be my first choice, Kouchner second, and Chan last.
Japanese candidate offers ‘political courage’ in WHO race
Japanese WHO official Shigeru Omi, who helped set up a controversial warning against travel to southern China and Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic in 2003, has pledged to show “political courage” if he is elected head of the United Nations health agency.
[snip]
Asked for examples of political courage, Omi underlined his role in advising then WHO chief, Gro Harlem Brundtland, to issue a formal public warning against travel to China’s Guangdong province and Hong Kong on April 2, 2003.
It was the first time that the global health agency had ever issued a travel advisory to prevent the spread of a disease. The decision sparked a howl of protests from the countries concerned.
[snip]
Japanese WHO official Shigeru Omi, who helped set up a controversial warning against travel to southern China and Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic in 2003, has pledged to show “political courage” if he is elected head of the United Nations health agency.
[snip]
Omi said that Asian countries tackling H5N1 bird flu since 2003 were now split in two categories: one that had made good progress in cutting transmission in infected chickens, the other that was “not succesful” in doing so.
“In spite of strong political commitment… and so on. Everybody has good intentions, but there are two groups,” he added.
Dr. Omi is making it as clear as he possibly can that he is with us. Maybe it’s time to write our representatives and express our opinion on this subject.
Dr. Margaret Chang has chosen to be a public figure and therefore, like all politicians, has a history (public health is in large part politics).
History is open to continual re-interpretation. She may have been treated fairly by history or not, it is not for us to decide…but now she will in a few weeks, thanks to China’s money and influence, be starting her tenure as Director General of the World Health Organization. She will be on top of the ‘mole hill’.
She can dispel history by acting in the best interest of those who pay her wages…which is us!!…or she can be a lap-dog of China (who has the money and the influence).
She should well know that she has summited the mountain at what will be an apex of history and regulatory medical science. She is going to be the center of attention as she is the pivotal figure in all that we discuss.
This time there will be no gray areas at the end of the day.
TomDVM:
If Chan is appointed, we will see pan-flu “managed” with the Chinese stle of management right up until it’s obvious that no one anywhere can “manage” it for a second more.
As bad as the managing part of that is, what’s worse is that once the virus does its thing and becomes unstopable, the “management” plan has no follow-up plan. That’s the problem with command-style beaurocracies. They can work ok, or at least look like they’re working ok, as long as the chinks in the management plan don’t get too big. When they do, the entire load of fish blows apart and there is absolutely never any “plan B.”
Pixie Thanks /:0)
bump
In the news thread, it was said the U.S. sent its block of 9 votes to elect Chan.
If that was indeed true, then I wasn’t too far off earlier on this thread. The U.S. and Canada need a scape goat when TSHTF. “WHO should have announced phase 4 earlier, so we could have done something earlier.”
But here at Fluwiki, we knew. Canada made representations to the WHO and down played the need for things like PPE. I don’t remember the details of when this news was posted (by Klatu I think, sorry if I am wrong.
To TPTB, now that the fall guy is chosen, please don’t appeal to the WHO to delay phase 4, and down play the threat, and under estimate the budget necessary to mitigate the problem. Put money on the table. And save us.
I made a number of speculations on this thread and the first thread. Whatever they were, it’s water under the bridge. I said in July that our best chance was to get a good ADG in charge of panflu i.e. Margaret Chan’s old job. I also said we would have more mileage pushing our governments than focusing on the DG election which I felt was a waste of our time. As well, I suggested that we create our own pandemic alert scale to compete with the WHO phases. However, my idea gained zero traction, and I accepted the collective wisdom of the wiki. I would still like to re-open the discussion about who would make a good ADG for panflu. I have these names
Dr. Osterholm Dr. Nabarro
Any one else wants to chime in?
I agree!!! Lest have them both!! They could ‘share the ADG chair’ and take turns travelling and speaking so that one of them is always in the office with a finger on the red button! I think we should declare Level 4 as our Fluwiki Alert Level - and post it on the Main Page of the Wiki as well as at the top of the Forum Page! Comments anybody??
Yes, but who is actually going to be offered the job though? Does anyone know a line-up of the candidates?
I just realized Dr Shigeru Omi also vacated his old job. Is he getting his old job back or is he moving on? If the latter is true, then there are two jobs open. So can we have both Dr.Osterholm and Dr. Nabarro?
I just realized Dr Shigeru Omi also vacated his old job (not quite sure what it was). Is he getting his old job back or is he moving on? If the latter is true, then there are two jobs open. So can we have both Dr.Osterholm and Dr. Nabarro?
( As if we could be so lucky? )
Omi was head of the Regional WHO Western Pacific. They all had to vacate their jobs for the election, and those who didn’t win will go automatically back to their old jobs.
crfullmoon – at 07:53
I know. I know.
But if we don’t try, we won’t find out.
Back in September, Monotreme wrote: “Well, we can expect alot more of that when [Margaret Chan is] DG. Shall we start taking up a collection for Julie Hall? She will join Maria Cheng in looking for a new job the second Chan becomes DG.”
Maria Cheng left WHO last spring, to become the Associated Press medical writer based in Europe. And Julie Hall accepted a job (which will start next month) outside WHO several weeks ago, when the DG race was completely up in the air (despite what some people on this thread seem to believe).
Path Forward – at 12:53
Julie probably made the decision to quit so she was able to be very vocal. For every Julie or Maria, there are many more (pick your number) who are doing this difficult job everyday, sometimes quietly, trying to make the world safer. They are my heroes. They need to know that it’s not unnoticed.
Comment about this situation from EffectMeasure:
WHO Director General: on being careful what you wish for Category: Bird flu • China • WHO Posted on: November 10, 2006 5:59 PM, by revere
In an example of the adage, “Be careful what you wish for,” China’s choice for WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan, is already finding her reputation will be held hostage to the behavior of China itself, not an enviable position. <snip>
Sniffles – at 21:07
Is this an early sign Chan’s new position will help with the China problem? We hope so. It could just be China’s initial concession to dampen anxieties about her independence as she takes over the helm. We’ll have to see. Chan is now in the position that her credibility is tied to the credibility of the Chinese government.
Earlier today November 10th in the news thread, I had similar thoughts as the last sentence quoted above in Effect Measure.
ANON-YYZ – at 13:58 November 10 news thread.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/y43tay
Sure they could try to hide the damning sequences. I am no scientist, but I think as more sequences are released, some scientist will pose more questions that will force more to be released (just like the Fujian strain paper). Now that Chan is elected, China has more to lose than before. We have leverage now. In the past, they could just ignore us, and there was not much we could do about it. But Chan is accountable to the UN, and China wouldn’t want to be embarrass her too much. Imagine China 30 years ago, with this virus, behind an iron curtain. It would have been far worse.
Sniffles – at 21:07
Is this an early sign Chan’s new position will help with the China problem?
I think we are more likely to see vacillations due to competing interests inside China. Trade vs health. Central vs local government. Human health vs agricultural concerns. Pragmatism vs ideology.
Politics consists of a compromises and lowest common denominators alternating with efforts to do good, IMHO.