The United Nations urges preparedness to confront the next epidemic

The director commented in his message issued on the occasion of the celebration of World Epidemic Preparedness Day this Wednesday, that when the next epidemic arrives we must do better, but he said: We are not ready yet.

He called for no longer allowing the monopoly of vaccines, tests and treatments by some countries.

“We must reject the moral and medical catastrophe of countries hoarding and controlling pandemic-related health supplies, and ensure everyone has access to diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines. We must also strengthen the authority and funding of the World Health Organization,” he stressed.

He stressed that although the end of Covid-19 was declared a public health emergency last May, that does not mean that the disease no longer poses a global threat.

He pointed out that the epidemic affected hundreds of millions of people, caused the death of millions and had devastating effects on humanity.

“The economic damage caused by the pandemic remains. Many health systems are struggling. “Millions of children are at risk of disease after not receiving routine childhood vaccinations,” Guterres said.

To combat this, he said the way forward is through global cooperation, improving global virus surveillance, strengthening health systems and realizing the promise of universal health coverage.

He stressed that these efforts are moving forward, and pointed out in this sense that the high-level meeting on epidemic prevention, preparedness and response, which was held last September, ended with a strong political declaration that complements the ongoing negotiations towards a global agreement on the pandemic.

As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made clear in his year-end message issued the previous day, this first agreement aims to improve cooperation and equity in responding to future pandemics.

He added that the agreement will help create a safer and healthier world with a global response system to disease outbreaks.

“Let us learn together and act on the lessons of COVID-19, prepare ourselves, and build a fairer and healthier world for all,” Guterres concluded.

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