At the World Health Summit in Berlin, a hundred nations gathered until Tuesday, October 26, to take stock of the COVID-19 pandemic but above all to know how to protect themselves from it in the future, in particular through a better preparedness for epidemics and emerging diseases.
“Viruses move fast, but data can move even faster.” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on the second day of the Summit. “With the right information, countries can stay ahead of emerging risks and save lives. Urbanization, deforestation, climate change and intensification of agricultural practices increase the risk of epidemics and pandemics. . “
For the head of the WHO, even if the pandemic is not yet over, the end of Covid-19 is within reach. “The pandemic will end when the world chooses to put an end to it, it is in our hands, we have all the tools we need,” the WHO chief said on Sunday.
Objective: vaccinate 70% of the population of each country by 2022
WHO has set a target for 40% of the population of each country to be vaccinated by the end of the year and 70% by the middle of 2022.
“The goal is achievable, but only if the countries and companies that control the supply translate their declarations into action,” said Dr Tedros, who regularly deplores the grabbing of anti-Covid vaccines by rich countries.
“Countries that have already reached the 40% target, including all G20 countries must give way in vaccine deliveries” to the international Covax system and the African Fund for the Acquisition of Vaccines (Avat) set up. up by the African Union, pleaded Dr. Tedros.
As for vaccine manufacturers, they “must share know-how, technology and licenses, as well as waive intellectual property rights.”
The WHO also insisted on the need to focus on researching new technologies to prevent one of the emerging diseases from turning into a global health disaster like that of Covid-19 which made more than 4.9 million deaths in the world.
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