Africa: WHO Director-General's Opening Remarks At the Covid-19 Global Action Plan Ministerial Meeting, New York, USA - 23 September 2022

23 September 2022
World Health Organization (Geneva)
press release

Your Excellency Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield,

Excellencies co-hosts Minister Albares, Minister Kwape and Minister Abdul Momen,

Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,

I thank the United States, Bangladesh, Botswana and Spain for hosting us today, and I join others in sending my condolences and best wishes to Secretary Blinken and his family at this sad time.

I also thank the United States for its leadership in supporting the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the six lines of action of the Global Action Plan.

We have never been in a better position to end COVID-19 as a global health emergency.

The number of weekly reported deaths is near the lowest since the pandemic began;

And two-thirds of the world's population is vaccinated, including 75% of health workers and older people.

But there is much more to be done.

Huge disparities in vaccination coverage, plummeting rates of testing and sequencing, and gaps in access to antivirals put us all at risk.

We have the tools to bring the acute phase of this pandemic to an end.

But only if we vaccinate all health workers and older people, keep testing, and expand access to effective antivirals.

At the same time, WHO is working with our Member States to build a stronger architecture for health emergency preparedness and response:

With a new pandemic accord and strengthened International Health Regulations;

With enhanced financing through the newly-established Financial Intermediary Fund;

With enhanced systems and tools for surveillance, preparedness and equitable access to tools, including a truly multilateral supply chain clearing house;

And with a strengthened and sustainably financed WHO playing a central coordinating role.

Excellencies,

As a former Foreign Minister myself, I know just how crucial a role you can - and must - play.

Together, we must end the pandemic, by vaccinating all those most at risk.

And together, we must build a safer world, and we must do it now.

I thank you.

Read the original article on WHO.

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