WHO to set up emergencies programme

The World Health Organization will establish a health emergencies programme in response to widespread criticism over its handling of the Ebola epidemic in west Africa.1 WHO described the programme as one of the most “profound transformations” in its history. The organisation would take an operational role in emergencies, as well as its usual technical role.

WHO said in a statement, “The new programme was designed to deliver rapid, predictable, and comprehensive support to countries and communities as they prepared for, faced, or recovered from emergencies caused by any type of hazard to human health, whether disease …