The COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of lives, caused millions of deaths and inflicted devastating impacts on humanity.
After three years of unprecedented global efforts, on May 5 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing, however, that this does not mean that the disease is no longer not be a global threat.
“The economic damage caused by the pandemic endures. Many health systems are struggling. “Millions of children are threatened by diseases after not receiving routine childhood vaccines,” said Mr. Guterres.
Lessons to learn
The UN chief noted that three years after the first COVID-19 vaccines were developed, billions of people remain unprotected, overwhelmingly in developing countries.
“When the next pandemic comes, we must do better. But we're not ready yet. We must prepare and act on the lessons of COVID-19,” she urged.
“We must renounce the moral and medical disaster of rich countries hoarding and controlling pandemic health supplies, and ensure that everyone has access to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines,” he stressed, adding that the authority and funding of the WHO.
Joint efforts
He said the way forward is through global cooperation. The world must improve virus surveillance, strengthen health systems and realize the promise of Universal Health Coverage.
The Secretary General said that these efforts are moving forward. He recalled that the high-level meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, held in September, concluded with a strong political declaration that complements the ongoing negotiations towards a pandemic agreement.
This first global agreement aims to improve collaboration, cooperation and equity in responding to pandemics of the future, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his year-end message published on Tuesday.
The pandemic agreement will help create a safer and healthier world with a universal response system for disease outbreaks, he added.
Guterres urged countries to build on this momentum by achieving a strong and comprehensive agreement, focused on equity.
“Together, let us act on the lessons of COVID-19, prepare and build a fairer and healthier world for all,” he said.
