By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN chief António Guterres on Friday urged all nations to invest in resilience and equity to make a healthier and safer world for all in a message commemorating Friday’s International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
Guterres warned that the world remains dangerously unprepared for the next pandemic, despite the harrowing lessons of COVID-19.
“COVID-19 was a wake-up call to the world,” he stated, reflecting on the devastating human, economic and social toll of the pandemic.
“The crisis may have passed, but a harsh lesson remains: the world is woefully unprepared for the next pandemic,” he emphasized.
He noted that recent outbreaks of mpox, cholera, polio, and Marburg virus serve as stark reminders of persistent threats, emphasized the need for stronger, more inclusive health systems.
He underscored the need for bold investments in pandemic monitoring, detection and response, alongside Universal Health Coverage, as critical pillars of preparedness.
Guterres said that equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics is a moral imperative, underscoring the lessons learned during COVID-19 when disparities in healthcare access were striking.
He also underscored the importance of the pandemic preparedness and response accord, which is under intergovernmental negotiations, to ensure the world works better, together, to prevent and contain future pandemics.
“Today, and every day, let’s commit to working together for a safer and healthier world for everyone, everywhere,” he said.
WHO reiterated this message, highlighting its ongoing collaboration with governments to strengthen emergency and epidemic preparedness systems.
UN health agency in a statement underscored the importance of the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health sectors to mitigate epidemic risks.
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