Tamer Abulainain
GENEVA, March 25 (KUNA) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Wednesday commended Kuwait's response to the novel coronavirus, especially in view of transparency and reporting.
Speaking to KUNA, Ghebreyesus also lauded Kuwait's close coordination with the WHO over the fight against the virus, known as COVID-19, pointing out the role of the organization's regional office in this regard.
He said the Kuwaiti government has a long experience in controlling respiratory malfunctions, citing its response to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) as a relevant unequivocal paradigm.
The WHO chief also spoke highly of Kuwait's recent backing to COVID-19-affected countries, mainly USD 40 million's worth of aid for anti-virus efforts.
Regarding it as one of the WHO's crucial strategic partners, Ghebreyesus said Kuwait has greatly contributed to the organization's necessary health efforts to ease out the woes of millions of people in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Ghebreyesus, further, appreciated Kuwait's contributions to the WHO's emergency fund purposed to give fast-track response to contagious diseases and health emergencies.
Meanwhile, Kuwait's Permanent Representative at the UN and International Organizations in Geneva Jamal Al-Ghunaim quoted the WHO chief as having thanked the government and people of Kuwait for their aid during a phone call with him.
He boasted that Kuwait's aid mainly aims at backing international efforts to put the novel coronavirus under control.
He added that Kuwait had greatly contributed to the fight against contagious diseases in several regional countries, mainly Syria and Yemen.
On March 17, the State of Kuwait donated USD 40 million to the WHO in contribution to the fight against the globally spreading COVID-19. (end) ta.mt