Geneva, May 19 – A majority of the World Health Organization’s 174 assembly members adopted a resolution calling for the recognition of the “key leadership” of the beleaguered health body as it has been striving to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has caused high death tolls and economic collapses in many countries.

The resolution also urged the initiation at “the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with member states, a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation” of the experiences and lessons learned in the global fight against the pandemic.

The adoption of the resolution capped a two-day annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, which for the first time ever was held by teleconferencing when most of the world was in a state of locked down to minimize infections and deaths.

The resolution paid tribute to the “dedication, efforts and sacrifices, above and beyond the call of duty of health professionals, health workers and other relevant frontlines workers, as well as the WHO Secretariat, in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The call for WHO to lead an inquiry into the handling of the pandemic, while supported by all world powers which had been clashing over the responsibility of the origin of the coronavirus, provided no timeline for the inquiry.

WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus agreed to the inquiry. He has been under pressure to do so but gave no hint as to when and how it would be carried out, saying simply that the WHO “remains fully committed to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.”