Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 21st Sept. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said that the Member States pledged to avert next devastating health and socioeconomic crises caused by COVID-19.
World leaders adopted a milestone political declaration at the summit on pandemic prevention and response, nations committed to get back on track to reach SDGs.
Mr. Tedros said “This is a historic milestone in the urgent drive to make all people of the world safer, and better protected from the devastating impacts of pandemics,”.
“I welcome this commitment by world leaders to provide the political support and direction needed so that WHO, governments and all involved can protect people’s health and take concrete steps towards investing in local capacities, ensuring equity and supporting the global emergency health architecture that the world needs.”
He noted that the declaration was the result of months of intense negotiations to refine and agree on actions at the national, regional and global levels. It will be submitted to the General Assembly in due course for formal endorsement.
The political declaration asserts the need for Member States to conclude negotiations on a formal agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the Pandemic Accord and make targeted amendments to International Health Regulations – by May next year.
It calls on States to address the negative physical and mental health impacts of health-related misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and stigmatization, on social media platforms.
The accord called for public information campaigns based on science and the facts.
Member States committed to strengthen health workforces and rapid response capacities, surveillance, and local manufacturing abilities, so countries can meet their own needs to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics.
UN chief Antonio Guterres called the global response to COVID-19 showcased both human ingenuity and exposed society’s shortcomings.
The rapid test and vaccine development were notable achievements, there were a lack of preparedness, disproportionate impacts on the world’s poorest and vaccine hoarding by wealthy nations, he stated
“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past when the next pandemic strikes – as we know it will – and other health threats emerge,” Guterres said.
He reiterated the importance of the declaration, and urged countries to support the WHO, including increasing their financial contributions.
