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| WHO chief 'rethinking' Robert Mugabe's appointment | WHO chief 'rethinking' Robert Mugabe's appointment |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The new head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is rethinking a plan to appoint Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador. | The new head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is rethinking a plan to appoint Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador. |
| Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus's original proposal sparked an outcry. | Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus's original proposal sparked an outcry. |
| He had previously praised Zimbabwe for its commitment to public health. | He had previously praised Zimbabwe for its commitment to public health. |
| But Mr Mugabe's critics say Zimbabwe's health care system has collapsed under his 30-year regime, with staff often going without pay while medicines are in short supply. | But Mr Mugabe's critics say Zimbabwe's health care system has collapsed under his 30-year regime, with staff often going without pay while medicines are in short supply. |
| It led Zimbabwean human rights lawyer Doug Coltart to take to Twitter to question how WHO felt about having "a Goodwill Ambassador who destroyed the health sector in his country". | |
| Other social media users accused the president - who, at 93, has outlived his country's average life expectancy by more than three decades - of travelling abroad to receive his own medical treatment. | Other social media users accused the president - who, at 93, has outlived his country's average life expectancy by more than three decades - of travelling abroad to receive his own medical treatment. |
| Meanwhile, the UK government described his selection as "surprising and disappointing" given his country's rights record, and warned it could overshadow the WHO's work. | Meanwhile, the UK government described his selection as "surprising and disappointing" given his country's rights record, and warned it could overshadow the WHO's work. |
| Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he "thought it was a bad April Fool's joke", while the US State Department said it "clearly contradicts the United Nations ideals of respect for human rights and human dignity". | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he "thought it was a bad April Fool's joke", while the US State Department said it "clearly contradicts the United Nations ideals of respect for human rights and human dignity". |
| Zimbabwe's leader has been frequently taken to task over human rights abuses by both the European Union and the US. | Zimbabwe's leader has been frequently taken to task over human rights abuses by both the European Union and the US. |
| Other groups who have criticised Mr Mugabe's appointment include the Wellcome Trust, the NCD Alliance, UN Watch, the World Heart Federation and Action Against Smoking. | Other groups who have criticised Mr Mugabe's appointment include the Wellcome Trust, the NCD Alliance, UN Watch, the World Heart Federation and Action Against Smoking. |
| Dr Tedros had said Zimbabwe was a country that "places universal health coverage and health promotion at the centre of its policies to provide health care to all". | Dr Tedros had said Zimbabwe was a country that "places universal health coverage and health promotion at the centre of its policies to provide health care to all". |
| However, the Ethiopian said on Saturday he was "rethinking his approach in light of WHO values". | However, the Ethiopian said on Saturday he was "rethinking his approach in light of WHO values". |
| Mr Mugabe was supposed to be goodwill ambassador "to help tackle non-communicable diseases", which includes things like heat attacks and asthma. | Mr Mugabe was supposed to be goodwill ambassador "to help tackle non-communicable diseases", which includes things like heat attacks and asthma. |
| Dr Tedros is the first African to lead the WHO. He was elected in May with a mandate to tackle perceived politicisation in the organisation. | Dr Tedros is the first African to lead the WHO. He was elected in May with a mandate to tackle perceived politicisation in the organisation. |