Conversation with Dr Soumya Swaminathan and Prof. Keiji Fukuda

On January 30 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency on the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) that originated in Wuhan, China. Healthcare experts have warned that Covid-19 could rapidly spread, if not properly contained, and many governments around the world have begun to take precautionary measures to ensure public health safety. Amid the international concern and heightened fears about the disease, what is fact and what is fiction? The Asia Society Hong Kong Center brings you regular updates on the coronavirus story in Hong Kong that has reverberations elsewhere in the world. We are pleased to present on-the-ground public health experts and internationally renowned specialists with the latest facts and evidence-based findings regarding this epidemic outbreak. In episode 31, hear from Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the WHO.  This discussion will be moderated by Keiji Fukuda, Director and Clinical Professor at The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health. Dr Soumya Swaminathan was appointed WHO’s first Chief Scientist in March 2019. A paediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV, she brings with her 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes. Dr Swaminathan was Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017. In that position, she focused on bringing science and evidence into health policy making, building research capacity in Indian medical schools and forging south-south partnerships in health sciences. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva. She received her academic training in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and has published more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is an elected Foreign Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine and a Fellow of all three science academies in India. The Science division’s role is to ensure that WHO stays ahead of the curve and leverages advances in science and technology for public health and clinical care, as well as ensuring that the norms, standards and guidelines produced by WHO are scientifically excellent, relevant and timely. Her vision is to ensure that WHO is at the cutting edge of science and is able to translate new knowledge into meaningful impact on population health worldwide. Keiji Fukuda is Director and Clinical Professor at The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health. He previously was the Assistant Director-General for health security, a Special Adviser to the Director General for pandemic influenza and for antimicrobial resistance and was Director of the Influenza Programme at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Before that, he worked at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the Epidemiology Section Chief, Influenza Branch. Professor Fukuda has been a global public health leader in many areas including health security and personally has led numerous field investigations, global responses and diplomatic negotiations related to emerging infectious diseases including seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, SARS, MERS, Ebola and antimicrobial resistance. At WHO, he oversaw implementation of the International Health Regulations and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework. He is an adviser to the Hong Kong Government for COVID-19. (Moderator)