Geneva/New York, November 9 – The World Health Organization said only “science, solutions and solidarity” can help the world fight Covid-19, which has already infected some 50 million people and killed over 1.2 million but its long-term effects are still not known.
“No one knows the long-term effects of this virus on the human body, or on the type of world our children and grandchildren will inherit,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the resumed 73rd World Health Assembly in Geneva as a second wave of cases was hitting many countries and lockdowns were reinstated, particularly in some countries in Europe and the Americas.
“We might be tired of Covid-19 but it is not tired of us,” he said. “We cannot negotiate with it, nor close our eyes and hope it goes away. It pays no heed to political rhetoric or conspiracy theories. Our only hope is science, solutions and solidarity. That is what WHO has been doing since the beginning. “
The WHO leader said the organization has relied on sciences by bringing together thousands of experts to analyze ever-growing evidence, research and work out roadmaps to fill gaps in the knowledge of Covid-19. WHO also has sent over 285 million essential medical products to 168 countries and territories as they were fighting the pandemic and set up an online learning platform in 41 languages to help train health care providers and all other users.
On November 6, the WHO and UNICEF appealed for $655 million and urgent action to try to avert new polio and measles epidemics as the Covid-19 pandemic caused lockdowns and prevented access to immunization services in some of the poorest countries in the world.
The WHO and UNICEF said vaccination campaigns for polio and measles, two major diseases affecting children, have had to pause in order to protect health workers and communities from Covid-19 infections and while Covid-19 protection measures were being put into place. Such a situation has resulted in a drop of as much as 50 per cent in polio and measles vaccination campaigns.
“The Covid-19 pandemic hurt momentum as polio and immunization efforts were suspended,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “This put children, especially in high-risk areas, more vulnerable to killer diseases like polio, measles and pneumonia.”
“And now we’re starting to see outbreaks of these diseases. We need to turn the tide quickly and ensure no child is left behind. Today, WHO and UNICEF are jointly launching an emergency appeal to rapidly boost measles and polio vaccination.”
The WHO leader said the drive to prevent new polio and measles epidemics is backed by a unique partnership between WHO, UNICEF, Rotary, CDC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, which is a global immunization program.
The new funding of $655 million – $400 for polio and $255 for measles – is needed to address the severe immunity gaps in middle-income countries that are not eligible under the Gavi assistance program.
Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, said that while the world is focused on fighting the pandemic it should not neglect the fight against other diseases.
“Addressing the global Covid-19 pandemic is critical. However, other deadly diseases also threaten the lives of millions of children in some of the poorest areas of the world. That is why today we are urgently calling for global action from country leaders, donors and partners,” she said.
“We need additional financial resources to safely resume vaccination campaigns and prioritize immunization systems that are critical to protect children and avert other epidemics besides Covid-19.” Respond to eme