Bird flu expert David Nabarro doubles duties
With his hectic work schedule, Dr. David Nabarro is likely one of the busiest expats in Switzerland. His responsibilities as Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, as well as coordinator for the High Level Task Force on Global Food Security Crisis, take him all over the world, leaving very little time to enjoy the quiet life in the Geneva countryside.
A British physician and public health specialist who worked extensively in poverty-stricken regions and was once caught in a bombing in Iraq, Dr. David Nabarro is used to confronting difficult situations.
His latest responsibilities certainly fit that criterion because they combine two of the world’s major health and humanitarian problems: disease control and food security.
An eminent influenza expert, Nabarro has coordinated the United Nations efforts to prevent and control the spread of the “bird flu” virus since it had claimed its first human victims in 2004.
Although much progress has been made in the fight against the avian influenza, “we must remain vigilant so we are not caught by surprise if the virus should mutate,” he said.
That is, by any measure, a gargantuan task, but it did not stop Nabarro from accepting an additional UN mandate last December: that of coordinating the task force to ensure an effective response to global food security crisis.
With almost one billion people in the world’s poorest regions unable to purchase food or suffering from malnutrition, finding a solution to this pressing matter is of utter importance, he stressed, adding that Switzerland’s reaction to this crisis is heartening.
“The Swiss have empathy toward those who go to sleep hungry,” Nabarro told Swisster. “People here realize that world is a very small village and there’s interconnectivity between wealthy and poor societies. So the Swiss willingly give money to the UN, which is the best hope we have for the world.”
How does one person find time and energy to devote to both these crucial issues, giving each of them the attention they deserve? “I see this as an important opportunity to do something I had learned to do over the years – work in a coordinated and effective manner,” Nabarro said.
“It is not necessarily straightforward and often challenging, because getting all the parts of the machine working in synergy is a team effort,” he added. “Fortunately, I work with a lot of fantastic people.”
With his busy schedule and frequent travels, private time is at a premium, Nabarro said. Still, when he is home in Founex, he enjoys skiing, cycling, walking and running. “It is the most beautiful landscape and the people here are very nice,” he said. “It is an absolute privilege to be a guest in their country.”
He also takes pride in his UN mandate. “The work is quite exhausting,” he said. “But it gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
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