WEB DESK
World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN’s postal agency have released a commemorative postage stamp today on the 40th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox. The head of the global health body expressed gratitude to a top Indian-origin UN official. In May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly issued its official declaration that the world and all peoples have won freedom from smallpox.
It ended after a 10-year WHO-spearheaded global effort that involved thousands of health workers around the world to administer half a billion vaccinations to stamp out smallpox. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, when WHO’s smallpox eradication campaign was launched in 1967, one of the ways countries raised awareness about smallpox was through postage stamps.
He added Social media like Twitter and Facebook was not even on the horizon then. WHO chief yesterday in Geneva thanked Mr Atul Khare, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, for making the commemorative stamp possible. He said this during a virtual unveiling of the stamp. Born in India, Khare is the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Operational Support (DOS) and the UN Postal Administration is within the DOS Division of Administration.
Khare became the Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support in January 2019. He was previously appointed Under-Secretary-General for Field Support in 2015. The stamp recognises the global solidarity in fighting smallpox and honours millions of people working together. From world leaders and international organisations to rural doctors and community health workers, to eradicate smallpox the stamp has recognised all.
