United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has described the COVID-19 pandemic as a wake-up call for all, declaring that although the crisis may have passed, the harsh lesson remains.
“The world is woefully unprepared for the next pandemic,” Guterres emphasised.
The UN Chief’s remarks came in a message commemorating Friday’s International Day Of Epidemic Preparedness.
Guterres urged all nations to invest in resilience and equity to make a healthier and safer world.
In this regard, the UN Chief underscored the need for bold investments in pandemic monitoring, detection, and response, alongside Universal Health Coverage, as critical pillars of preparedness.
He said that equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics is a moral imperative, underscoring the lessons learned during COVID-19 when striking disparities in healthcare access became evident.
The Secretary-General also underscored the importance of the global pandemic preparedness and response accord, now the subject of intergovernmental negotiation.
The UN says the accord aims to ensure the world works better together to prevent and contain future pandemics.
“Today, and every day, let’s commit to working together for a safer and healthier world for everyone, everywhere,” Guterres said.
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