(MENAFN) David Nabarro, the Special Envoy on Covid-19 to the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been knighted in the UK’s New Year Honours list. Nabarro, a British physician and public health expert, was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to global health. The award was presented by Princess Anne, and came during a week in which the UK government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has faced renewed scrutiny.
Nabarro has worked extensively with the WHO on a range of global health issues, including infectious diseases, nutrition, and climate change. Prior to his work with the WHO, Nabarro worked as a medical officer in north Iraq for Save the Children, before joining the UK’s National Health Service for a brief period. He has held a number of positions at the WHO, including serving as the special representative of the secretary general for food security and nutrition, and the special envoy on Ebola.
The knighthood recognises Nabarro’s contributions to global health, particularly in relation to his work on the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, Nabarro has been a prominent voice in the WHO’s response, advocating for global collaboration and sharing of resources. In September 2020, he warned that the pandemic would not be over until 2022 at the earliest, and urged countries to work together to control the spread of the virus.
The honour for Nabarro comes as the UK government faces criticism for its handling of the Covid-19 crisis, following the publication of leaked WhatsApp messages between senior government officials. The messages have revealed disagreements over policy decisions and controversial attitudes towards vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic, including social care home residents. The honour for Nabarro is a positive recognition of the important role played by public health experts during the pandemic, and a reminder of the need for global cooperation in the face of global health crises.
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