Syria joins WHO’s leadership board
Syrian opposition medical workers are criticizing the World Health Organization for admitting the Syrian regime to to its executive board.
Syria was elected to the executive board of the World Health Organization on May 26, drawing anger from the Syrian opposition.
The WHO is a United Nations organization that works on global health. It has been involved in the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic response, including with the distribution of vaccines. Its 34-member executive board consists of qualified medical professionals, according to its official webpage. Syria’s board representative is its health minister, Dr. Hassan Mohammad Al Ghabbash. Other regional states on the board include Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The Syrian Civil Defense, aka the White Helmets, criticized the move on Monday. The organization, which provides medical and rescue services in rebel-controlled parts of Syria, said it was “shocked and disappointed” that the WHO gave the government of President Bashar al-Assad representation.
“This election rewards the Assad regime despite its systematic destruction of hospitals and health centers, in addition to a long list of other war crimes,” the group said in a statement.
