WHO = The World Health Organization has announced that Ken Kasai, the head of the regional secretariat that has jurisdiction over East Asia, has been dismissed for inappropriate behavior.
The dismissal was announced by Ken Kasai, Director General of the WHO's West Pacific Regional Office, which has jurisdiction over East Asia and the Pacific region, including Japan.
Mr. Kasai specializes in infectious disease control and has served as the secretary general of the regional secretariat since 2019 and has been in charge of measures against the new coronavirus. In response to criticism, the WHO put Kasai on leave last year and proceeded with an internal investigation.
In a statement released on the 8th, the WHO said, "The investigation found inappropriate conduct. After careful consideration of the results and consultation with the regional committee and the board of directors, the director-general was dismissed. ”.
According to officials of the regional secretariat, a regional committee was held last week in the Philippines, where the secretariat is located, and the results of the investigation were reported and the treatment of Mr. Kasai was discussed. With 13 votes in favor, 11 against, and 1 abstention, the dismissal was voted.
Based on this result, the final decision was made at the headquarters board meeting in Geneva.
Kasai has said in a previous statement that he "denies any criticism that he has racially discriminated against a specific culture or country."