Indian-American Dr Ashish Jha Named White House's COVID Response Coordinator

Dr Jha said he is grateful to President Biden for offering ”a poor immigrant kid" a chance to serve the country.

Dr Ashish K Jha is now White House's COVID Response Coordinator

(Photo: Twitter/Dr Ashish K Jha)

US President Joe Biden on Thursday, 17 March, named Indian-American Dr Ashish K Jha as the new White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator.

Biden said in a statement, "Dr Jha is one of the leading public health experts in America, and a well-known figure to many Americans for his wise and calming public presence. And as we enter a new moment in the pandemic – executing on my National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and managing the ongoing risks from COVID – Dr Jha is the perfect person for the job."

Dr Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, said that he was "honoured to have the opportunity."

He tweeted on Thursday:

"So, as they say… Some news. For all the progress we've made in this pandemic (and there is a lot). We still have important work to do to protect Americans’ lives and well being."

‘Honoured To Have the Opportunity’: Dr Jha

He said, "So when POTUS asked me to serve, I was honored to have the opportunity." Dr Jha added that President Biden has "spoken the truth about this virus" and has prioritized policies based on science.

He said that even though the world is in a "better place" with vaccines and therapeutics, we are likely see a further surge in COVID-19 cases and its variants. Dr Jha said that the US will protect its citizens from "whatever Mother Nature throws at us."

Dr Jha said that he is grateful to President Biden for offering "a poor immigrant kid who left India not speaking a word of English" a chance to serve the country.

He added, "And I’m excited to get started on my part."