The question of a baby that moved a WHO leader during the conference

Carl Van Kerkhove asked his mother when the pandemic was ending. She burst into tears. (Photo: Caputra de Video).

One year and six months after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Maria Van Kerkhove, one of WHO’s most important officials was moved during a televised conference before a reflection of your son Carl. “The hardest part was being separated from my mother for so long when she came back from China”The little boy commented in a conversation with great sincerity as his mother looked at him with tears in her eyes. Van Kerkhove was part of WHO’s nine-day mission to China in February 2020 to study the new disease.

A few minutes later, the conference moderator offered to ask Carl Van Kerkhove a question of his mother and Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Program. The little boy didn’t miss his chance and asked him what everyone hopes to know: “When do you think covid-19 will end?”

After a few seconds of glances during which the two specialists delegated the responsibility to answer, María Van Kerkhove spoke in all sincerity: “I’ll try not to cry. I would like to know”, spoke the renowned epidemiologist, who quickly gave the floor to Mike Ryan.

“I know it will end faster if we do the right things ”, was the CEO’s first response to little Carl’s question. Additionally, Ryan extended his answer and explained how to do the right things to speed up the times of the covid-19 pandemic.

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“I know it will end soon if the vaccines reach everyone (…). If we protect ourselves and protect others. I know it will end faster when hospitals are more robust and able to provide care. If everything comes together, maybe as soon as possible. Our problem is to share fairly “said the director.

When she recovered from her crying, the epidemiologist also gave her son her point of view: “We do not yet have an answer on how quickly this pandemic will end. But with your help, with the help of your brother, with the help of your parents, and other children around the world, we can get closer to the end, ”said the doctor. Van Kerkhove.

The meeting was part of the face-to-face and virtual meetings that the health agency has with audiences around the world to clarify doubts about the virus with two of the most important specialists of the World Health Organization.

Van Kerkhove was born in the United States and holds a master’s degree in epidemiology from the Faculty of Medicine of Stanford University and a doctorate in epidemiology of infectious diseases from the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of London.

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Note that until July 29, 2021, one year and almost six months after the first case of covid-19 in Wuhan, China, Almost 194 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide. 4,158,041 people died, and the social, mental and economic impact of the pandemic could continue for years.