Here is the Associated Press Friday Morning story about the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Asian Pacific-based observations about Omicron, urging a wide array of measures to control the spread of the heavily mutated new variant: “WHO says measures used against delta should work for omicron,” https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-philippines-manila-world-health-organization-77142314f66839f0aa15d47c8d0850a8.
WHO’s handling of the emerging COVID pandemic two years ago spurred controversy. And WHO is still controversial, as it hasn’t fully repaired the perception damage done in those early stages of the pandemic. In our view, reform of WHO and a different oversight mechanism with transparency is much needed. So we would support the call to “Reform WHO.”
The controversy has resulting in strong support among some figures to replace WHO or to take other and severe measures against WHO. We would not go so far as to eliminate WHO. We believe the world needs a global organization like WHO more than ever; and the COVID pandemic and, most recently, the emergence and spread of the Omicron variant support our view.
But we offer a harder view as well so readers can evaluate these things for themselves.
Ben Hunt of Epsilon Theory has written a piece entitled “Defund the World Health Organization.” It is a hard-driving argument, and we agree with many of the points Ben made. We asked and Ben granted permission to publicly offer the essay, which can now be read at this link: https://www.epsilontheory.com/defund-the-world-health-organization/. Ben usually publishes behind a paywall but made an exception for this argument.
We don’t expect the World Health Organization to be defunded or to be replaced. Pressure is mounting, however, for a change in its leadership model and for more international treaty-level oversight. Time will tell.
Happy Sunday reading.
David R. Kotok
Chairman of the Board &Chief Investment Officer
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