The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday said that the coronavirus pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it, reported The Hindu Business Line.
Addressing the World Health Summit in Berlin, Tedros said that when will the COVID-19 pandemic end is one of the questions people keep on asking him frequently.
“The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it. It is in our hands. We have all the tools we need: effective public health tools and effective medical tools. But the world has not used those tools well,” Tedros said.
The WHO chief said the pandemic is far from over with around 50000 deaths reported a week. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the gaps in the global ability to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond rapidly to outbreaks.
“The pandemic has demonstrated beyond doubt that health is not a luxury for the rich, or simply an outcome of development; it’s a fundamental human right, and the basis of social, economic and political stability,” Tedros added.
The WHO chief said that it is impossible for any country to end the COVID-19 pandemic in isolation from the rest of the world and it is impossible for any country to protect the health of its own people without working to protect the health of all people.
Tedros emphasised on WHO’s target to vaccinate 40 per cent of the population of every country by the end of this year. He said the target is reachable only if the countries and companies that control supply match their statements with actions immediately.
The WHO chief said the countries that have already reached the 40 per cent target must give their place in the vaccine delivery queue to COVAX and the African Vaccines Acquisition Trust, or AVAT. He urged the G20 countries to fulfil their dose-sharing commitments immediately.
