pandemic preparedness - The African Mirror

Jun

2021

‘Time has come’ for pandemic treaty as part of bold reforms – WHO’s Tedros

STEPHANIE NEBEHAY THE head of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Monday for launching negotiations this year on an international treaty to boost pandemic preparedness, as part of sweeping reforms envisioned by member states. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, told its annual ministerial assembly that the U.N. agency faced a "serious challenge" to maintain its COVID-19 response at the current level and required sustainable and flexible funding. Earlier in the day - the last of the week-long assembly - health ministers agreed to study recommendations for ambitious reforms made by independent experts to strengthen the capacity of both the…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Consensus reached on pandemic treaty

COVID-19

STEPHANIE NEBEHAY SOUTH Africa has revealed that consensus had been reached to hold a special ministerial session of the World Health Organization (WHO) at the end of the year to consider negotiating a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness. The WHO, whose handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is under scrutiny, has endorsed a proposal, initially made by the European Union, to negotiate a global treaty as a way to ensure countries' political commitment to fighting outbreaks of new or particularly dangerous diseases. The WHO's World Health Assembly will meet from November 29 to December 1. A report by an independent…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

African Union calls for an inclusive post-COVID-19 world economic recovery, where no country is left behind

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact on human health, on societies and on economies. In the midst of the pandemic – even as we battle rising global infections – we must look towards an inclusive economic recovery, where no country is left behind. It was at the extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit in March this year that members committed to strengthening national, regional and global capacities to respond effectively to future pandemics. As the African continent we are playing our part, including through the establishment of a COVID-19 Response Fund to mobilise resources for a continental…