WHO is a 'treasure', says Special Envoy as Cameron claims it failed during pandemic

5 November 2020, 08:45 | Updated: 5 November 2020, 08:46

WHO is a 'treasure', says Special Envoy

By Fiona Jones

"Don't discard WHO, it's a treasure," says Special Envoy Dr David Nabarro, after former Prime Minister David Cameron said the organisation did not warn the world earlier of the pandemic and should be replaced by an independent system.

The World Health Organisation failed to warn the world about coronavirus earlier because it is “riven with politics,” David Cameron claimed, backing calls for an independent global system to warn of future pandemics,

Special Envoy for the WHO Dr David Nabarro told LBC, "The World Health Organisation works through a treaty that's been set up by different Governments when dealing with infectious diseases, and the treaty sets the limits of what the organisation can do."

He added, however, that the proposed changes for the WHO that Mr Cameron laid out in his article "made quite a lot of sense."

Nick asked Dr Nabarro how he thought the health body had served during the coronavirus crisis.

"I think the fact that this pandemic is so terrible and has caused so much death and misery...of course we all have to be called to account," he said, "questions have to be asked: how does this happen? Why wasn't it prevented when we knew these kinds of risks are all over the place? And why wasn't the response more satisfactory.

"So yes, I want inquiries, I want all of us to be held to account and I'm ready for it."

Dr Nabarro reminded Nick that these health bodies "operate in the space that's given to them by Government" so they "don't do as well as we'd ideally like them to as they don't have the room to manoeuvre."

He used the example of Mr Cameron's proposal that an independent body could enter a country when there is a breakout of an infectious disease to attempt to diagnose and quell it - but these are "not the rules" the WHO are under.

Nick asked Dr Nabarro what he would have done differently if he was Director General of the WHO, instead of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"I would be doing exactly what he's doing, he's held the line, that guy, since this was first announced at the end of January. He's not wavered, I think some of the countries have found it harder to work out what to do," Dr Nabarro said.

"All I'm going to ask everybody to do is don't discard the World Health Organisation, it's a treasure."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joins farmers and their tractors at Belmont Farm in north London

Farage urges farmers to 'keep the pressure up' as tractor protest hits Westminster over Labour’s ‘family farm tax’

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

Parish councillor resigns after being accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet cat

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

‘It made me feel physically sick’: Cat owner’s fury at parish councillor accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet

Nick Ferrari Reflects on an Unforgettable Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust Survivor Arek Hersh

Nick Ferrari reflects on an unforgettable journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Exclusive
Online extremism under scrutiny: The Prime Minister calls for tougher regulations to curb access to violent content following the Southport murders.

Terrorism ‘kill guides’ shared in social media groups targeting 'loners' and people 'obsessed with violence'

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Exclusive
The Chagos Islands deal is set to be a 'disaster' for US-UK relations, a former Home Secretary has said

'Surrender' of Chagos Islands to Mauritius would be 'disaster' for Labour's relationship with Trump, Braverman says

Exclusive
Britain's deal to cede the Chagos Islands has been cast into doubt

Labour deal to hand over Chagos Islands thrown into doubt as Starmer gives Trump time to 'consider' agreement

Exclusive
The UK and Mauritius said they have made "good progress" on a revised agreement, with Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam claiming the UK wants it finalised before Donald Trump is sworn in as president on January 20.

UK 'mid negotiation' over Chagos deal as government deny they're rushing deal through before Trump takes office

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves faces growing scrutiny as market jitters spark calls for fiscal clarity

Rachel Reeves faces growing pressure as market turmoil raises questions over Labour's fiscal credibility

Exclusive
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign

Reform is “fixed” in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Reform is 'fixed' in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Nigel Farage has told LBC he has "no desire to go to war with Elon Musk".

Nigel Farage tells LBC he doesn't want 'war' with Elon Musk and he plans to 'mend fences' at Trump's inauguration