WHO = The World Health Organization has announced that Ken Kasai, the head of the regional secretariat responsible for East Asia, including Japan, and the Pacific region, has taken a leave of absence.
Kasai is under internal investigation for making racist remarks, and an official said, "The leave is for a fair investigation."
The WHO announced on the 30th that Ken Kasai, the head of the West Pacific Regional Secretariat, which has jurisdiction over East Asia and the Pacific region, including Japan, has taken a leave of absence.
The reason and duration of his leave of absence have not been disclosed, but the WHO said Kasai's deputy director-general, Yaqab, will act on his behalf.
Mr. Kasai specializes in measures against infectious diseases and has served as the secretary general since 2019 and has been in charge of measures against the new coronavirus, but was criticized by some employees for making racist remarks. WHO was conducting an internal investigation.
An official of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office told NHK that the leave of absence was to eliminate Kasai's influence and proceed with a fair investigation, and that no conclusion has been reached. .
Mr. Kasai issued a statement in February this year and indicated his intention to fully cooperate with the investigation, saying, ``I deny the criticism that I have racially discriminated against a specific culture or country.''