Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the newly appointed WHO Director-General came under fire from NGOs and the public after his appointment of dictatorial Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe to the WHO Goodwill Ambassador on October 19th.
This placement was then rescinded by the Director-General on October 22nd due to the mounting pressure against him and the WHO. The 93-year-old leader was removed from his position while Dr. Tedros, repeated that “ the worldwide movement for global health” he aims to build “must work for everyone and include everyone”.
Dr. Tedros, the first African leader of the WHO and the former Ethiopian Foreign Minister and Health Minister, has shown that he is part of the African old guard making an appointment on political lines rather than that of merit-based appointments. This comes to light when his appointment to the WHO was backed by Zimbabwe and the kickback was this Goodwill Ambassador position.
This appointment came as a shock as most of the world knows Mugabe’s 37-year rule of Zimbabwe as fraught with the decimated economy, tyrannical rule, and an all but lifeless healthcare system. So, where does this decision have its roots in some semblance of merit?
Dr. Tedros, when making the announcement of his appointment made reference to Zimbabwe “as a country that places universal health coverage and health promotion at the centre of its policies to provide health care to all”. This is in stark contrast to the reality of the situation. Medicines to treat patients are in short supply added to this it has healthcare workers that go often unpaid. With the system only barely staying afloat with the assistance of international aid. According to the WHO, only one functioning MRI and mammogram machine in operation for the entire country in the public healthcare sector.
This while the WHO Director-General remarks that the leader was the right person to fight to lead the WHO’s fight against NCDs. This from a leader that can be directly linked to the health crisis and the plummeting health of the citizens of his nation.
There is no real indication nor will there most likely be in the reasoning for the appointment in his very short tenure as the Director-General. This monumental blunder in the face of the world has lost Dr. Tedros, the faith and trust he needs to have to carry this important position.
On Monday, October 23rd during the arbitration hearings in the tragedy at Life Esdimeni, a family member of one of the victims suggested that amnesty is given to the NGOs.
The Life Esidimeni tragedy claimed the lives of 141 patients from the facility. They were moved to NGOs who falsified documentation and left the patients in an appalling condition and left to die
This was suggested in the hopes of “getting answers” in the words of Christine Nxumalo, whose sister died at the notorious Precious Angels NGO facility. She further suggested that the officials not be held criminally liable for giving false testimony they made at the arbitration.
Further, she stated that everything that was said in the hearing by Precious Angels founder, Ethel Ncube Nxumalo “I can tell you that everything she said was a lie”
Christine’s sister was reported to have died on 17th of August 2016 while in a statement from the Founder of Precious Angels. This contradicts a paramedics report showing she actually passed away two days earlier on the 15th August.
While she critical of the department and their actions she wants answers and the truth rather than prosecution for the sake of the families. While she is still waiting on answers from the SAPS on an open case and autopsy report from them.
Going further Christine had said that on numerous occasions they had contacted the Health Department to warn them of the implications of ending their contract with Life Esidimeni. To which they received no response from the department.
This has raised the question over truth over Justice with the obvious moral complex involved. Yet, this would allow for all the answers to be given to the families and the full story finally told of what transpired over the months leading to the deaths of 141 mentally ill patients.
Timeline of events
Image Credits: www.ewn.com
Kyla Hermannsen a former journalist for Health-e has been part of the winning entries at the Vodacom Journalist of the Year awards for the Northern Region, for her documentary on Life Esidemeni, Dignity Denied.
Health-e in a statement has said that the documentary was partly produced while she was Hermannsen was still working at the organization. The new outlet has commented on how proud they were of the announcement and commends the journalist and the team comprised of Ashley Market, Tshepo Dhlamini, Tshidi Lechuba of eNCA’s Checkpoint, and freelance cameraman Shamiel Albertyn.
In a comment from the judges of the awards, “Journalism can influence awareness of what is happening in our country and drive public discourse. Months of investigation resulted in a series of reports that were thoroughly researched, poignantly told, well shot and edited – and exposed conditions contributing to the death of one of the subjects. This impactful reporting was subsequently even used during the official investigation.”
The documentary aired 16th August 2016 on Checkpoint a show on eTV and eNCA.
*This target has not been completed but, partially met.
The 2017 WHO NCDs Progress Monitor shows that South Africa has some way to go especially when it comes to implementation of NCDs policy. It seems that we are not alone.
“It’s alarming that six years out from the first UN High-level Meeting on NCDs in 2011, less than half of WHO Member States have put in place effective NCD governance that would go a long way to preventing people from dying of premature deaths and contracting avoidable illnesses,” said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance.
An excellent way to speed up progress is through a national coordinating mechanism like an NCDs commission. The SA NCDs Alliance celebrates the formation of the new SA National Health Commission which is set to fulfil this purpose. That is if the swift revision of its objects and scope are officially revised.
NCDs progress in South Africa will only speed up when the national focus shifts from paper to action. Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson, CEO SA NCD Alliance
Stats on NCDs in South Africa
