Latest news with #SEARO
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
WHO regional head placed on leave amid corruption allegations
A regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been placed on leave after being charged with fraud, forgery and misuse of power. Saima Wazed, the daughter of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was elected as head of the WHO's South East Asia (SEARO) regional office in November 2023. But the victory was marred by claims her mother used her influence to garner support, and the 52-year-old Ms Wazed was charged by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission in March. The authorities have since seized some of her assets. Among the accusations against her are claims that she forged documents while campaigning to become the regional director, and leveraged her political ties to channel some $2.7 million through a Bangladesh non-profit that she chairs called the Shuchona Foundation. A spokesperson for the WHO said: 'WHO's Regional Director, SEARO, Saima Wazed, is currently on leave. During this period, Dr Catharina Boehme is serving as Officer-in-Charge.' Ms Wazed did not respond to questions from The Telegraph and has not commented publicly on the WHO's decision. Her brother, Sajeeb Wazed, previously described the corruption investigation as a 'smear campaign' by the new Bangladesh administration, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. An unnamed official from Mr Yunus' administration told the Financial Times that Ms Wazed's removal is an 'important first step towards accountability' and 'restores integrity to this prestigious role'. The WHO's SEARO region is headquartered in India. Since a warrant was issued for Ms Wazed's arrest in Bangladesh she's been unable to return, while the country's WHO office has reportedly refused to work with her as regional-director. Her ability to travel to other places in the region has also been curtailed. SEARO is one of six WHO regions, and covers two billion people in 10 countries – in May this year, Indonesia swapped to be part of the Western Pacific region instead. It has an annual budget of more than $500 million (£371 million), and has a significant role in health-related policies and programmes across the area.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Impact of new Covid variants under study'
Nagpur: Two new Covid-19 variants have been informed by the WHO's South East Asia Regional Office's (SEARO) collaborating and reference lab at CSIR-Neeri on Saturday. Neeri's SEARO collaboration and reference lab network (CoviNet), led by Dr Krishna Khairnar, has been conducting wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 for one year. The development about the new variants was shared on the basis of information available on WHO's dashboard of CoViNet. Dr Khairnar informed that one case of the NB.1.8.1 variant was identified in Tamil Nadu in April, and four cases of the LF.7 variant were detected in Gujarat in May. "These are new variants, so they have to be constantly monitored to understand their transmissibility and virulence. Correlation with clinical symptoms, mortality, or morbidity shall establish their actual impact," Dr Khairnar said. WHO had in February 2024 chosen the Neeri Environmental Epidemiology and Pandemic Management (EEPM) division, led by principal scientist and head Khairnar, as a reference lab for tracking emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and other viruses. Khairnar said both NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 are currently classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Variants Under Monitoring. "These variants have been associated with rising Covid-19 cases in parts of Asia, including China. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo NB.1.8.1 possesses spike protein mutations — A435S, V445H, and T478I — that may enhance transmissibility and immune evasion," he said. WHO's preliminary assessment indicates a low global public health risk from NB.1.8.1, Khairnar pointed out. As of May 19, India has 257 active Covid-19 cases. The predominant variant remains JN.1, accounting for 53% of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26%) and other Omicron sublineages (20%). Localized increase in Covid-19 cases has been observed in several regions. Delhi reported 23 new cases, Andhra Pradesh recorded four cases in the last 24 hours, and Telangana confirmed one new case. A nine-month-old in Bengaluru tested positive amid a gradual rise over the past 20 days. Kerala reported 273 cases in May alone. In Nagpur, four new cases were found this month so far. "The wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is ongoing and observing an upward trend of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies. This trend is yet to be correlated with recent circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in India," Khairnar said. A recent meeting chaired by the Director General of Health Services, with key health institutions, reviewed the current situation. Health experts emphasize that while the new variants are being monitored, the overall risk remains low. The public is advised to continue practising preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining personal hygiene to minimise infection risk.
