World Bank rep arrives in Myanmar and self-quarantines in COVID-19 era

29 March 2020
World Bank rep arrives in Myanmar and self-quarantines in COVID-19 era

The new World Bank Country Director for Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR, Mariam Sherman, has just arrived in Myanmar is taking 14 days to “self-quarantine” as a precaution, given the need to prevent the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19.

Ms Sherman, in a virtual introduction by video, said the World Bank will be working with Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to help bolster their health systems, given the coronavirus pandemic spreading around the world.

Myanmar’s confirmed COVID-19 cases currently stand at six, according to the Myanmar government and the announcement by the UN Mission that one of their staff who has just arrived from Switzerland is infected.

Ms. Sherman, a British national, joined the World Bank in 1996 as consultant in the Middle East and North Africa region.  Since then, she has held various managerial positions, her most recent assignment being Director of Strategy and Operations in the Europe and Central Asia Region of the World Bank.  Previously, she was World Bank Country Director based in West Bank and Gaza and Country Manager for Afghanistan. Other work experience in the World Bank has included assignments in the Indonesia Country Management Unit, the West Bank and Gaza Country Management Unit, and on central policy issues.

Prior to joining the World Bank Ms. Sherman worked for NGOs on programmes in the Middle East and South Africa.  She received an MS in Development Management from the American University in Washington DC, and a BA in Middle Eastern Studies (Arabic and Modern Hebrew) from Manchester University in England.

Here is here “virtual introduction”:
https://web.facebook.com/WorldBankMyanmar/videos/524196898508655