Delegates from 194 countries are meeting in Geneva for a closed-door election to choose the next director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), following a campaign marked by mud-slinging and spin. The three candidates are Dr David Nabarro, backed by the British government; Ethiopia's former health minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; and Pakistani medic Dr Sania Nishtar.
This is the first time a vote has been held for the WHO's top post, as the organisation has faced criticism over its slow response to the Ebola epidemic in west Africa, which killed over 11,000 people, and a lack of transparency under outgoing director general Margaret Chan.
Tedros has faced recent criticism, with Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert linked to the Nabarro campaign, accusing him of covering up three cholera outbreaks while serving as health minister between 2005 and 2012. Ethiopia's government described the disease as acute watery diarrhoea. Tedros reportedly said the intervention showed a 'colonial mindset'. Gostin is part of Nabarro's 'kitchen cabinet', a role revealed in leaked emails by Mukesh Kapila, a Tedros supporter who has accused Nabarro of dirty tricks.
Nabarro, a former UN adviser on Ebola and other health issues, has denied involvement in Gostin's comments. He has the backing of Prime Minister Theresa May and other senior UK officials. Tedros, supported by the African Union and Ethiopia's government, has promised to prioritise universal health coverage. The election result is expected later today.
