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WHO Chief optimistic about pandemic treaty despite setbacks
Despite a recent failure to reach an agreement, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), remains optimistic that countries would finally secure a pandemic treaty.
Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends the World Health Assembly at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, May 27, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Despite a recent failure to reach an agreement, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), remains optimistic that countries could finally secure a pandemic treaty.
The WHO chief was speaking during a conference in Switzerland on Monday, May 28. Representatives from around the world are meeting in Switzerland in an attempt to come to an agreement to share data and deliver vaccines in the event that another pandemic strikes.
Regardless of medical professionals’ warnings that the process could take years, Ghebreyesus remains confident, the report by Reuters stated.
Following the devastating effects of COVID-19, ministers from the WHO’s 194 member states are attempting to wrap up more than two years of deliberations on new pandemic response guidelines during the May 27–June 1 World Health Assembly.
But on Friday, negotiators failed to develop a deal that the assembly would formally approve this week.
“Of course, we all wish that we had been able to reach a consensus on the agreement in time for this health assembly, and cross the finish line. I remain confident that you still will, because where there is a will, there is a way. I know that there remains among you a common will to get this done,” Director-General Tedros said.
He noted that WHO’s role in helping nations prevent and prepare for calamities is equally vital, even though it is not as visible as WHO’s efforts in reacting to emergencies, which frequently makes the news.
Tedros, in his address, assured that his outfit continues to support many Member States to “strengthen their core health emergency capabilities – including laboratory capacity, with support from the office in Lyon”.
He also mentioned that, the Pandemic Fund is now up and running, and the demand is huge.
“For its first round, the Fund made disbursements of 338 million US dollars to 37 countries – but received applications from over 120 countries, with requests for financing of over 2 billion U.S. dollars. The application for the second round has just closed, and demand remains strong,” he announced.
