Health

COVID-19, conflict and climate crises exacerbate setbacks for children’s and women’s health

Note: A new United Nations study launched at the World Health Summit in Berlin says the pandemic, conflict and climate change have had devastating impacts on children, adolescents and women, from health and education to human rights. Millions of children were locked out of schools under COVID-19. Over 10 million children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19. Following is a Press Release from the World Health Summit in Berlin.

STAGGERING BACKSLIDING ACROSS WOMEN’S, CHILDREN’S AND ADOLESCENTS’ HEALTH REVEALED IN NEW U.N. ANALYSIS

Berlin, 18 October 2022 – A new UN report shows that women’s and children’s health has suffered globally, as the impacts of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change converge with devastating effects on prospects for children, young people and women.

Data presented in the report show a critical regression across virtually every major measure of childhood wellbeing, and many key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the last Every Woman Every Child Progress Report published in 2020, food insecurity, hunger, child marriage, risks from intimate partner violence, and adolescent depression and anxiety have all increased.

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An estimated 25 million children were un- or under-vaccinated in 2021 – 6 million more than in 2019 – increasing their risk of contracting deadly and debilitating diseases. Millions of children missed out on school during the pandemic, many for more than a year, while approximately 80 per cent of children in 104 countries and territories experienced learning-loss because of school closures. Since the start of the global pandemic, 10.5 million children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19.

“At the core of our unkept promise is the failure to address the gaping inequities at the root of global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to conflicts and the climate emergency. The report describes the impacts of these crises on women, children and adolescents, from maternal mortality to education losses to severe malnutrition,” said Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General.

The report provides wide-ranging evidence that children and adolescents face wildly divergent chances of leading a healthy life simply based on where they are born, their exposure to conflict, and the economic circumstances of their families. For example:

· A child born in a low-income country has an average life expectancy at birth of around 63 years, compared to 80 in a high-income country. This devastating 17-year survival gap has changed little over recent years. In 2020, 5 million children died even before the age of 5, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. Meanwhile, most maternal, child, and adolescent deaths and stillbirths are concentrated in just two regions – sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

· More than 45 million children had acute malnutrition in 2020, a life-threatening condition which leaves them vulnerable to death, developmental delays and disease. Nearly three-quarters of these children live in lower-middle-income countries. A staggering 149 million children were stunted in 2020. Africa is the only region where the numbers of children affected by stunting increased over the past 20 years, from 54.4 million in 2000 to 61.4 million in 2020.

· The six countries with the highest numbers of internally displaced persons – Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen – are also among the top 10 food insecure countries.

· A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has around a 130 times higher risk of dying from causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth than a woman in Europe or North America. Coverage of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care is far from reaching all women in low- and middle- income countries, leaving them at elevated risk of death and disability.

· Millions of children and their families are experiencing poor physical and mental health from recent humanitarian disasters in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen. In 2021, a record 89.3 million people worldwide were driven from their homes by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuse.

The report calls upon the global community to address this damaging trajectory and protect the promises made to women, children, and adolescents in the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, it advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, to address all crises and food insecurity, and empower women and young people around the world.

The report, titled Protect the Promise, is published by global partners, including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and Countdown to 2030, as a bi-annual summary of progress in response to the UN Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. The most comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the current state of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, it updates the last Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy Progress Report published in 2020.

Quote sheet:

“Almost three years on from the onset of COVID-19, the pandemic’s long-term impact on the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents is becoming evident: their chances for healthy and productive lives have declined sharply,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “As the world emerges from the pandemic, protecting and promoting the health of women, children and young people is essential for supporting and sustaining the global recovery.”

“The impacts of COVID-19, conflicts, and climate crises have raised the stakes for vulnerable communities, revealing the weaknesses and inequities in health care systems and reversing hard-won progress for women, children, and adolescents – but we are not powerless to change this,” said UNICEF Executive Catherine Russell. “By investing in resilient, inclusive primary health care systems, jumpstarting routine immunization programmes, and strengthening the health workforce, we can make sure that every woman and every child can access the care they need to survive and thrive.”

“There is a crisis of inequity that is piling on already increasing and compounding threats. In a world where too many children, adolescents and women are dying, equity, empowerment and access are what needs urgent focus,” said H.E. Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child and President of the Republic of Estonia, 2016-2021. “We are calling on all to think and act broadly and profoundly to protect the promise. This promise refers not only to the commitments made in the Sustainable Development Goals, and all of the campaigns that followed, but also to the larger promise of potential that everyone is born with. Too often this promise remains unclaimed, or even denied.”

“In the face of increasing political pushback against sexual and reproductive health and rights in many countries, women, children and adolescents today are left without many of the protections of just a decade ago, and many others still have not seen the progress they need,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director. “Access to sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, is a fundamental right that directly and acutely affects the ability of women and adolescent girls to thrive. We need to expand these rights and services to the most marginalized, leaving no one behind.”

“The report advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, in all crises, and to re-imagine health systems that can truly reach every woman, child, and adolescent, no matter who they are or where they live,” said the Rt. Hon Helen Clark, Board Chair of PMNCH (The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. “Experts and world leaders are calling for more women in policy- and decision-making at every level, meaningful engagement with young people, and primary health care systems which deliver what people need when and where they need it most.”

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WHO: Covid-19 is a manageable disease and nearing the finish line

WHO calls for transforming mental health care as Covid-19 drives up mental disorders

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Geneva/New York, June 17 – The World Health Organization has called for urgently transforming the global mental health care as nearly 1 billion people were living with a mental disorder in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and mental health illnesses have risen significantly since then.

Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25 per cent in 2020 alone, the first year of the pandemic, WHO said.

The Geneva-based organization issued its largest review of world mental health since the beginning of the 21^st century in a 296-page study that reported on conditions of mental health services in scores of countries, illustrated with stories of people who struggled with health disorders. It said the report provided a blueprint for governments, academics, health professionals, civil society and others with “an ambition to support the world in transforming mental health.”

“For decades mental health has been one of the most overlooked areas of public health, receiving a tiny part of the attention and resources it needs and deserves,” it said.

Mental illnesses include schizophrenia, autism spectrum, eating and bipolar disorders, anxiety and depression.

Read report: https://who.canto.global/b/SBC7Q

WHO said in a press release that the report is urging mental health decision makers and advocates “to step up commitment and action to change attitudes, actions and approaches to mental health, its determinants and mental health care.”

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Everyone’s life touches someone with a mental health condition. Good mental health translates to good physical health and this new report makes a compelling case for change.”

“The inextricable links between mental health and public health, human rights and socioeconomic development mean that transforming policy and practice in mental health can deliver real, substantive benefits for individuals, communities and countries everywhere. Investment into mental health is an investment into a better life and future for all.”

The report said mental disorders are the leading cause of disability and the nearly 1 billion people with mental disorders included 14 per cent of the world’s adolescents. It said suicide accounted for more than 1 in 100 deaths and 58 per cent of suicides occurred before age 50.

It said people with severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, mostly due to preventable physical diseases. Childhood sexual abuse and bullying victimization are major causes of depression.

Social and economic inequalities, public health emergencies, war, and the climate crisis are among the global, structural threats to mental health.

Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against people with mental health conditions are widespread in communities and care systems everywhere; 20 countries still criminalize attempted suicide.

The report said the poorest and most disadvantaged in society are at greatest risk of mental ill-health who are also the least likely to receive adequate services.

Dévora Kestel, Director of WHO’s Mental Health and Substance Use Department, who led the team of experts to produce the report, called for change: “Every country has ample opportunity to make meaningful progress towards better mental health for its population. Whether developing stronger mental health policies and laws, covering mental health in insurance schemes, developing or strengthening community mental health services or integrating mental health into general health care, schools, and prisons, the many examples in this report show that the strategic changes can make a big difference.”

Report urges governments to implement 2013-2030 plan

The report urged all countries to accelerate their implementation of the comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2030, which was signed by all 194 WHO member states. The plan committed the members to global targets for transforming mental health.

“Pockets of progress achieved over the past decade prove that change is possible,” WHO said. ”But change is not happening fast enough, and the story of mental health remains one of need and neglect with 2 out of 3 dollars of scarce government spending on mental health allocated to stand-alone psychiatric hospitals rather than community-based mental health services where people are best served.

WHO called for (1) deepening the value and commitment to transform mental health, provide committed leadership, pursue evidence-based policies and practice and establishing robust information and monitoring systems. (2) Reshape environments that influence mental health, including homes, communities, schools, workplaces, health care services, natural environments. (3) Strengthen mental health care by changing where, how, and by whom mental health care is delivered and received.

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WHO: Climate change poses serious risks; nearly 1 billion people living with mental conditions

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Geneva/New York, June 3 – The World Health Organization issued a policy brief warning that climate change is a serious risk to people’s mental health and well-being. It said nearly 1 billion people are living with mental conditions in low- and middle-income countries but the majority do not have access to needed health services. Following is a news release from WHO.

NEWS RELEASE

Why mental health is a priority for action on climate change

New WHO policy brief highlights actions for countries

3 June 2022

Climate change poses serious risks to mental health and well-being, concludes a new WHO policy brief, launched today at the Stockholm+50 conference. The Organization is therefore urging countries to include mental health support in their response to the climate crisis, citing examples where a few pioneering countries have done this effectively.

The findings concur with a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in February this year. The IPPC revealed that rapidly increasing climate change poses a rising threat to mental health and psychosocial well-being; from emotional distress to anxiety, depression, grief, and suicidal behavior.

“The impacts of climate change are increasingly part of our daily lives, and there is very little dedicated mental health support available for people and communities dealing with climate-related hazards and long-term risk,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.

The mental health impacts of climate change are unequally distributed with certain groups disproportionately affected depending on factors such as socioeconomic status, gender and age. However, it is clear that climate change affects many of the social determinants that already are leading to massive mental health burdens globally. A 2021 WHO survey of 95 countries found that only 9 have thus far included mental health and psychosocial support in their national health and climate change plans.

“The impact of climate change is compounding the already extremely challenging situation for mental health and mental health services globally. There are nearly 1 billion people living with mental health conditions, yet in low- and middle-income countries, 3 out 4 do not have access to needed services” said DévoraKestel, WHO Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “By ramping up mental health and psychosocial support within disaster risk reduction and climate action, countries can do more to help protect those most at risk.”

The new WHO policy brief recommends five important approaches for governments to address the mental health impacts of climate change:

Integrate climate considerations with mental health programs

Integrate mental health support with climate action

Build upon global commitments

Develop community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities and

Close the large funding gap that exists for mental health and psychosocial support

“WHO’s Member States have made it very clear mental health is a priority for them. We are working closely with countries to protect people’s physical and mental health from climate threats,” said Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, WHO climate lead, and an IPCC lead author.

Some good examples exist of how this can be done such as in the Philippines, which has rebuilt and improved its mental health services after the impact of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 or in India, where a national project has scaled up disaster risk reduction in the country while also preparing cities to respond to climate risks and address mental health and psychosocial needs.

The Stockholm Conference commemorates the 50th anniversary of the UN Conference on the Human Environment and recognizes the importance of environmental determinants for both physical and mental health.

Note to editors

WHO defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”.

WHO defines mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) as “any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental disorder”.

WHO raises alarm on tobacco industry environmental impact

WHO establishes the Global Center for Traditional Medicine in India

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Geneva/New York, March 25 – Traditional medicine, used by about 80 per cent of the world’s population, is recognized by the World Health Organization which has decided to establish a global center in India. Following is a news release from WHO.

Maximizing potential of traditional medicines through modern science and technology

Geneva–25 March 2022–The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India today signed an agreement to establish the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. This global knowledge center for traditional medicine, supported by an investment of $250 million from the Government of India, aims to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology to improve the health of people and the planet.

For more information, see: who.int/initiatives/who-global-centre-for-traditional-medicine/

Around 80 per cent of the world’s population is estimated to use traditional medicine. To date, 170 of the 194 WHO Member States have reported the use of traditional medicine, and their governments have asked for WHO’s support in creating a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products.

“For many millions of people around the world, traditional medicine is the first port of call to treat many diseases,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Ensuring all people have access to safe and effective treatment is an essential part of WHO’s mission, and this new center will help to harness the power of science to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine. I’m grateful to the Government of India for its support, and we look forward to making it a success.”

The term traditional medicine describes the total sum of the knowledge, skills and practices indigenous and different cultures have used over time to maintain health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness. Its reach encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures as well as modern medicines.

But today, national health systems and strategies do not yet fully integrate the millions of traditional medicine workers, accredited courses, health facilities, and health expenditures.

“It is heartening to learn about the signing of the Host Country Agreement for the establishment of Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM). The agreement between Ministry of Ayush and World Health Organization (WHO) to establish the WHO-GCTM at Jamnagar, Gujarat, is a commendable initiative,” said HE (Mr) Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

“Through various initiatives, our government has been tireless in its endeavour to make preventive and curative healthcare, affordable and accessible to all. May the global center at Jamnagar help in providing the best healthcare solutions to the world.”

Traditional medicine is also increasingly prominent in the world of modern science.

Some 40% of approved pharmaceutical products in use today derive from natural substances, highlighting the vital importance of conserving biodiversity and sustainability. For example, the discovery of aspirin drew on traditional medicine formulations using the bark of the willow tree, the contraceptive pill was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments have been based on the rosy periwinkle. Nobel-prize winning research on artemisinin for malaria control started with a review of ancient Chinese medicine texts.

There has been a rapid modernization of the ways traditional medicine is being studied. Artificial intelligence is now used to map evidence and trends in traditional medicine and to screen natural products for pharmacokinetic properties. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to study brain activity and the relaxation response that is part of some traditional medicine therapies such as meditation and yoga, which are increasingly drawn on for mental health and wellbeing in stressful times.

In addition, traditional medicine use has also been updated by mobile phone apps, online classes, and other technologies.

The new WHO center will be established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. While Jamnagar will serve as the hub, the new center is being designed to engage and benefit all regions of the world.

It will concentrate on building a solid evidence base for policies and standards on traditional medicine practices and products and help countries integrate it as appropriate into their health systems and regulate its quality and safety for optimal and sustainable impact.

The new center focuses on four main strategic areas: evidence and learning; data and analytics; sustainability and equity; and innovation and technology to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health and sustainable development.

The onsite launch of the new WHO global center for traditional medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India will take place on April 21, 2022.

For more information, see: who.int/initiatives/who-global-centre-for-traditional-medicine/

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WHO establishes global biomanufacturing training hub in South Korea, Asian nations to receive mRNA technology

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Editor’s note: Following its successful establishment of mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa, WHO announced it is moving forward on goal to boost local pharmaceutical production by establishing global biomanufacturing training hub in the Republic of Korea.

Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Serbia and Vietnam will receive mRNA technology from the technology transfer hub. Following is a press release from WHO in Geneva.

Geneva, 23 February 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO), the Republic of Korea and the WHO Academy today announced the establishment of a global biomanufacturing training hub that will serve all low- and middle-income countries wishing to produce biologicals, such as vaccines, insulin, monoclonal antibodies and cancer treatments. The move comes after the successful establishment of a global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa.

“One of the key barriers to successful technology transfer in low- and middle-income countries is the lack of a skilled workforce and weak regulatory systems,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Building those skills will ensure that they can manufacture the health products they need at a good quality standard so that they no longer have to wait at the end of the queue.”

The Government of the Republic of Korea has offered a large facility outside Seoul that is already carrying out biomanufacturing training for companies based in the country and will now expand its operations to accommodate trainees from other countries. The facility will provide technical and hands-on training on operational and good manufacturing practice requirements and will complement specific trainings developed by the mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa.

The WHO Academy will work with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare to develop a comprehensive curriculum on general biomanufacturing.

“Just 60 years ago, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world,” said Mr Kwon Deok-chul, Minister of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea. “With the help and support of WHO and the international community, we have transitioned into a country with a strong public health system and bio-industry. Korea deeply cherishes the solidarity that the international community has shown us during our transition. By sharing these lessons we’ve learnt from our own experience in the past, we will strive to support the low- and middle-income countries in strengthening their biomanufacturing capabilities so that we could pave the way together towards a safer world during the next pandemic.”

In parallel, WHO is intensifying regulatory system strengthening through its Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), an instrument that assesses regulatory authorities’ maturity level. The GBT will serve as the main parameter for WHO to include national regulators in the WHO-listed Authorities list. Another aim is to build a network of regional centres of excellence that will act as advisers and guides for countries with weaker regulatory systems.

Five more countries will also receive support from the global mRNA hub in South Africa: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Serbia and Vietnam. These countries were vetted by a group of experts and proved that they had the capacity to absorb the technology and, with targeted training, move to production stage relatively quickly.

“Indonesia is one of the countries that continuously supports vaccine equity and equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, including through transfer of vaccine technology and know-how to developing countries,” said Mrs Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia.

“This transfer of technology will contribute to equal access to health countermeasures, which will help us to recover together and recover stronger. This is the kind of solution that developing countries need. A solution that empowers and strengthens our self-reliance, as well as a solution that allows us to contribute to global health resilience.”

“Support from the World Health Organization in this process is of essential importance for the development of continuing, quality and safe production of vaccines and medical products,” said Dr Zlatibor Loncar, Minister of Health, Serbia. “The development of new technology means the development of professional knowledge of Serbian experts and training of new young staff, as the absolute national priority.”

”Although Viet Nam is a developing country, we have had a lot of experience in vaccine development over the past decades,” said Dr Nguyen Thanh Long, Minister of Health of Viet Nam. ”Our National Regulatory Authority (NRA) has also been recognized by WHO. We believe that in participating in this initiative, Viet Nam will produce the mRNA vaccine not only for domestic consumption but also for other countries in the region and the world, contributing to reducing inequalities in access to vaccines.”

Argentina and Brazil were the first countries from the region of the Americas to receive mRNA technology from the global hub in South Africa, joining the initiative in September 2021. Companies from those countries are already receiving training from the technology transfer hub.

“We are convinced that, with the technical support from WHO, its regional offices, and the international community of experts, we will succeed in improving equitable and timely access,” said Dr Carla Vizzotti, Minister of Health of Argentina. “If we want to achieve better global and regional health outcomes, including better preparedness for future health emergencies, we must break our region’s cycle of dependency in a highly concentrated global vaccine market.”

Numerous countries responded to the call for expressions of interest from the technology transfer hub in late 2021. WHO will provide support to all of the respondents but is currently prioritizing countries that do not have mRNA technology but already have some biomanufacturing infrastructure and capacity. WHO will enter into discussions with other interested countries and other mRNA technology recipients will be announced in the coming months.

Read more on the mRNA technology transfer hub

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UPDATE: WHO calls for $23 billion to end pandemic in 2022; Africa on track to control Covid-19

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Geneva/New York, February 11 – The World Health Organization has launched a global campaign to raise $23 billion which it said would put an end to the pandemic as a global emergency in 2022. WHO said the launch amounts to a new financing framework based on the ‘fair share’ of financing that each high-income country should contribute to the ACT-Accelerator’s global response.

The Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator (see ACT-Accelerator) is a partnership of leading UN agencies that is providing low and middle-income countries with tests, treatments, vaccines, and personal protective equipment. WHO said ‘fair shares’ are calculated based on the size of their national economy and what they would gain from a faster recovery of the global economy and trade.

“The end of this pandemic can be within our sights – this year,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said of the launch. “We can get the economic recovery back on track and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals. But we need to act now.”

“Vaccines, tests and effective treatments are available. Yet many low and lower middle-income countries are still not getting these pandemic-ending tools to protect their families and communities – and our world. Until and unless we can ensure access to these tools, the pandemic will not go away, and the sense of insecurity of people will only deepen. We have the systems to accelerate the rollout of these essential tools.”

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said Africa is on track to control the COVID-19 pandemic this year if current trends continue because the continent has become smarter, faster and better at responding to each new surge, UN News reported. But she said vigilance will remain key.

“Against the odds, including huge inequities in access to vaccination, we’ve weathered the COVID-19 storm with resilience and determination, informed by Africa’s long history and experience with controlling outbreaks,” she said.

Moeti said Africa has gone through four waves of Covid-19, which claimed over 242,000 lives and tremendous damage to economies.

She said every month that emergency containment measures stay in place costs the continent roughly $13.8 billion in lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Although COVID-19 will be with us for the long-term, there is light at the end of the tunnel. This year we can end the disruption and destruction the virus has left in its path, and gain back control over our lives,” she said.

“Controlling this pandemic must be a priority. But we understand no two countries have had the same pandemic experience, and each country must, therefore, chart its own way out of this emergency.”

The launch in Geneva attended by national and international organization leaders came at a time when Omicron cases have declined and popular protests mounted against continued pandemic restrictions. Covid-19 deaths have remained high in some countries.

WHO said in a press release that the campaign aims at meeting the ACT-Accelerator’s funding gap of $16 billion and $6.8 billion in-country delivery costs to take vital steps towards ending the pandemic as a global emergency in 2022.

The press release said the ACT-Accelerator is calling for “the support of higher income countries, at a time when vast global disparities in access to Covid-19 tools persist. Over 4.7 billion Covid-19 tests have been administered globally since the beginning of the pandemic. However, only about 22 million tests have been administered in low-income countries, comprising only 0.4 per cent of the global total. Only 10 per cent of people in low-income countries have received at least one vaccine dose. This massive inequity not only costs lives, it also hurts economies and risks the emergence of new, more dangerous variants that could rob current tools of their effectiveness and set even highly-vaccinated populations back many months.”

“The rapid spread of Omicron makes it even more urgent to ensure tests, treatments and vaccines are distributed equitably globally,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “If higher-income countries pay their fair share of the ACT-Accelerator costs, the partnership can support low- and middle-income countries to overcome low COVID-19 vaccination levels, weak testing, and medicine shortages. Science gave us the tools to fight COVID-19; if they are shared globally in solidarity, we can end COVID-19 as a global health emergency this year.”

See important links:
ACT-Accelerator calls for fair share-based financing of US$ 23 billion to end pandemic as global emergency in 2022

· Consolidated Financing Framework for ACT-A Agency & In-Country Needs: www.who.int/publications/m/item/consolidated-financing-framework-for-act-a-agency-in-country-needs

· ACT-Accelerator ‘fair share asks’ – by country: www.who.int/publications/m/item/act-accelerator-fair-share-asks—by-country

WHO seeks $23 billion to end pandemic as a global emergency in 2022

UPDATE: WHO launches negotiations for legal, binding agreement to fight future pandemics

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Geneva/New York, December 1 – The World Health Organization has launched a global process to draft and negotiate an agreement under its constitution to strengthen world health systems against future crises of infectious diseases.

The decision to launch the negotiations was taken by the World Health Assembly in Geneva, which is the WHO’s decision-making body. In a press release, WHO said it was a consensus decision titled “The World Together,” which aims at protecting the world from future pandemics. The decision establishes “an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to adoption under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, or other provisions of the Constitution as may be deemed appropriate by the INB.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the decision represented a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the global health architecture to protect and promote the well-being of all people. The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the many flaws in the global system to protect people from pandemics: the most vulnerable people going without vaccines; health workers without needed equipment to perform their life-saving work; and ‘me-first’ approaches that stymie the global solidarity needed to deal with a global threat.”

“But at the same time, we have seen inspiring demonstrations of scientific and political collaboration, from the rapid development of vaccines, to today’s commitment by countries to negotiate a global accord that will help to keep future generations safer from the impacts of pandemics.”

WHO said the INB will hold two meetings, in March and August 2022, to agree on working methods and will hold public hearings to inform its deliberations. The INB will deliver a progress report to the 76th WHA in 2023 and submit its outcome for consideration by the 77th WHA in 2024.

The WHA held a three-day special session starting on November 29 before deciding to establish the INB. Tedros said in remarks at the session that Covid-19 has exposed weaknesses in the global health systems to deal with crises such as a pandemic. The session was held after a new Covid-19 variant named Omicron was detected in southern Africa, prompting some countries to close borders and consider new lockdowns.

Tedros said the world should thank South Africa and Botswana for detecting, sequencing and reporting the new variant Omicron instead of penalizing them. Some countries have closed borders to visitors from several southern African countries immediately after Omicron was discovered.

WHO has strongly criticized the world’s richest economies for monopolizing vaccines at the expenses of poor and vulnerable countries. The WHO chief pointed out that almost 8 billion vaccines were administered around the world in less than 12 months, making it the largest vaccination campaign in history. But he said more than 80 per cent of the vaccines have gone to the group of 20 richest countries (G20) while low-income countries, most of them in Africa, have received just 0.6 per cent of all vaccines.

He renewed a call for countries to support a program to vaccinate 40 per cent of the population of every country by the end 2021, and 70 per cent by mid-2022. He said a total of 103 countries still have not reached the 40-per-cent target, and more than half of them are at risk of missing it by the end of 2021, “simply because they cannot access the vaccines they need.”

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