Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Amid reports of a fresh resurgence of the coronavirus in Russia, China and some European countries, and the return of restrictions, the WHO has warned that the pandemic continues to threaten the planet and urged the countries to speed up universal vaccination programmes.
With nearly 50,000 deaths registered a week—and that’s only the reported deaths– the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“The pandemic will end only when the world chooses to end it. It’s in our hands. We have all the tools we need: effective public health and medical tools,” he said while addressing the World Health Summit in Berlin.
Dr Ghebreyesus said the countries must start using available public health and medical tools effectively, the media reported on Monday.
He emphasised the WHO’s target to vaccinate 40 per cent of the population of every country by the end of this year. “That target is reachable, but only if the countries and companies that control supply match their statements with actions – right now.”
“The countries that have already reached the 40 per cent target—including all G20 countries—must give their place in the vaccine delivery queue to COVAX and the African Vaccines Acquisition Trust, or AVAT. The G20 countries must fulfil their dose-sharing commitments immediately,” he said.
“Manufacturers must prioritise and fulfil their contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, and be far more transparent about what is going where. And they must share know-how, technology and licences, and waive intellectual property rights,” he asserted.
His statement came after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called on the G20 countries to help collect USD 8 billion to ensure a fair distribution of Covid-19 vaccines across the planet.
Dr Ghebreyesus said that countries should also prepare to prevent the next pandemic, with better governance, financing, systems and tools, and by strengthening the WHO.
And, he said, “All the countries must invest in primary healthcare as the foundation of universal health coverage.”