WHO Director-General will do nothing in this file when the culpirts are WHO senior officials

On September 28, 2021, the independent commission of inquiry into the sexual violence committed by some of the WHO employees against dozens of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) published its report in which the WHO was seriously challenged.

The same day, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in his address at a press conference: ''My top priority is to ensure that the perpetrators of these acts do not go unpunished, and hold them accountable. As Managing Director, I ultimately take responsibility for the behavior of the people we employ and for any failures in the system that enabled that behavior.”

Having worked for the WHO as an administrator within its representation in Bamako from November 10, 2007, to December 6, 2008, I naively brought to the attention of the WHO Director-General on October 1, 2021, a case of exploitation and sexual abuse I witnessed.

Five days later, on October 6, 2021, a WHO employee got in touch with me to let me know that since my allegations were very serious, an investigation had been opened.

I was later interviewed by WHO staff. Interview during which relevant questions were carefully avoided.

Seeing nothing coming since, I wrote a second letter to WHO Director-General on December 18, 2022, to express my doubts about the investigation.

Faced with the WHO's radio silence following my second letter, I decided, as a Canadian, on January 24, 2023, to bring this situation to the attention of Mr. Nicolas Palanque, Executive Director of the Public Health Agency of Canada and member of the WHO executive board. To date, that is to say, more than a month later, I have not received an acknowledgment of receipt of my correspondence.

Following this saga, I have come to the conclusion that WHO, contrary to the assertions of its Director General during his speech on September 28, 2021, will do nothing in this file when the culprits are WHO senior officials. In my specific case, they are: Dr Luis G, Sambo, former WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mr Sander E. Harman, Director of Administration and Finance (DAF) of WHO for Africa; Ms. Monika Altmaier, Director of Human Resources at the General Directorate of WHO, and Dr. Fatoumata Binta Tidjane Diallo, WHO Representative in Lomé.

And yet, even if it has no legal value, the Hippocratic Oath is considered one of the founding texts of medical ethics.

I will respect all people, their autonomy, and their will, without any discrimination according to their condition or their convictions.

I will intervene to protect them if they are weakened, vulnerable, or threatened in their integrity or dignity. Even under duress, I will not use my knowledge against the laws of humanity.

I will inform patients of the planned decisions, their reasons, and their consequences.

I will never deceive their trust and will not exploit the power inherited from circumstances to force consciences.