{"id":27273,"date":"2025-03-09T10:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-09T10:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebangladeshtoday.com\/?p=27273"},"modified":"2025-03-09T13:05:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-09T13:05:46","slug":"caphra-expresses-worries-over-corruption-allegations-against-who","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebangladeshtoday.com\/?p=27273","title":{"rendered":"CAPHRA expresses worries over corruption allegations against WHO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jan Escosio<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) expressed concern over corruption allegations against the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the United States\u2019 withdrawal of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAPHRA said it had \u201cdeep concerns\u201d about recent events involving the WHO. The group raised questions about the effectiveness of the organization\u2019s global public health policies, pointing to accusations of corruption and mismanagement in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to hold the WHO to its mandate and core mission of protecting global health based on science, not ideology; that is inclusive of all stakeholders, without judgment or prejudice,\u201d said Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA executive coordinator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAPHRA cited evidence of inappropriate influence, primarily by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in domestic policymaking in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Philippines, a 2021 House of Representatives public hearing revealed that the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received grants to fund the drafting of local regulations for cigarette alternatives from foreign private organizations funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Bangladesh, the appointment of Saima Wazed as WHO regional director for South East Asia (SEARO) is under scrutiny. Wazed, the daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was elected in November 2023 amid allegations that her mother improperly influenced the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The director of Bangladesh\u2019s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was quoted in a newspaper saying corruption was suspected in Wazed\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Pakistan, the government suspended the activities of Tobacco-Free Kids and Vital Strategies, two international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, citing several violations. The Interior Ministry also asked the State Bank of Pakistan to freeze the organizations\u2019 bank accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) faces allegations of incorporating the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) agenda into a draft regulation on plain packaging for cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sparked concerns about potential foreign intervention in Indonesia\u2019s tobacco policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hikmahanto Juwana, a professor of international law at the University of Indonesia (UI), said that Indonesia should protect its national sovereignty from foreign intervention and that all government policies should be based on domestic conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In India, New Delhi stopped a small nonprofit funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies from conducting tobacco-control work after it failed to disclose its funding, according to a Reuters report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An official said other foreign-funded organizations will need prior approval for anti-tobacco activities in the capital. In Vietnam, the Consumer Choice Center said Bloomberg\u2019s \u201charmful interference\u201d threatens smoking reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Facebook post showed WHO officials in Vietnam thanking Bloomberg\u2019s organizations for their support in providing technical assistance to the government on smoking and nicotine products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe push from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the WHO represents a form of regulatory colonialism, where foreign entities dictate policies without considering the unique challenges of individual countries,\u201d the Consumer Choice Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAPHRA said it finds the allegations concerning, particularly as the WHO prepares to convene the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the FCTC despite funding constraints from the US withdrawal. COP11, scheduled for Nov. 17 to 22, 2025, at the Geneva International Conference Centre in Switzerland, is expected to cost the WHO millions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US withdrew its WHO membership, citing concerns over the organization\u2019s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its response to global health crises, and its ability to implement reforms and maintain independence from inappropriate political influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This decision has prompted other countries, including Argentina, Hungary, Italy, and potentially Russia and the UK, to reassess their affiliations, raising broader discussions about the WHO\u2019s impartiality and political influence. CAPHRA also urged Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, to assert independent policies and reject influence from foreign funders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt this year\u2019s COP, it is crucial that the Philippines assert its sovereignty against Bloomberg\u2019s influence over the FCTC and advocate for its own policies. This ensures that smokers who do not quit will have access to less harmful alternatives,\u201d CAPHRA said.Top of FormBottom of Form<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAPHRA promotes tobacco harm reduction (THR)-a public health approach that provides smokers with less harmful alternatives to cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientific studies show that tobacco harm reduction and smoke-free products such as vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches are far less harmful than cigarettes, which produce toxic smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writer: Journalist, inquirer.net<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jan Escosio The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) expressed concern over corruption allegations against the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the United States\u2019 withdrawal of support. CAPHRA said it had \u201cdeep concerns\u201d about recent events involving the WHO. The group raised questions about the effectiveness of the organization\u2019s global public health […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":27274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-health"],"yoast_head":"\nCAPHRA expresses worries over corruption allegations against WHO - The Bangladesh Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thebangladeshtoday.com\/?p=27273\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CAPHRA expresses worries over corruption allegations against WHO - The Bangladesh Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jan Escosio The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) expressed concern over corruption allegations against the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the United States\u2019 withdrawal of support. 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