India to head WHO Executive Board next month amid the global Covid-19 crisis

India will take a lead role at the annual meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that is scheduled to take place at its headquarters next month.

As per reports, India’s nominee will assume the charge as chairperson of the WHO’s Executive Committee on 22 May at the World Health Assembly conference. India will replace Japan, which will complete its one year term in May. The World Health Assembly (WHA) will formally elect the executive board members on May 18.

The decision came last year when the WHO South-East Asia group unanimously proposed India to the executive board for a three-term year. However, the appointment will come at a crucial time as WHO is struggling to contain the Coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has already killed more than 180,000 people worldwide and infected 2.6 million.

At the WHO, a government official said, India is on the side of transparency and accountability in the Covid-19 outbreak and reforms in the WHO. The reports suggest that India’s nominee, as head of the 34-member Executive Board, will have to work closely with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.