March 31, 2021 -- More than 20 world leaders and the head of the World Health Organization have come out in support of an international treaty that calls for global cooperation to battle future pandemics.
In a joint article published in newspapers around the world, the leaders say another pandemic is inevitable and that preparations must be made to share knowledge and vaccines.
“There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone,” the article said. “The question is not if, but when. .... The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.”
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday that the treaty could be discussed at WHO’s annual ministerial assembly in May, Reuters reported.
The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the globe since the first cases were reported in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Since then, 127.9 million cases have been reported worldwide and almost 2.8 million people have died of COVID-related causes, Johns Hopkins University reports.
Leaders for the United States, China, and Russia did not sign the article. Tedros said that’s not a deal breaker.
“Comment from member states, including the United States and China, was actually positive,” he said, according to the New York Times. “Next steps will be to involve all countries, and this is normal. … I don’t want it to be seen as a problem.”
The joint article said an international treaty would improve alert systems, data-sharing, research, and production and distribution of vaccines, medicines, and personal protective equipment.
“Pandemic preparedness needs global leadership for a global health system fit for this millennium. To make this commitment a reality, we must be guided by solidarity, fairness, transparency, inclusiveness and equity,” the article said.
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March 31, 2021 at 09:16PM
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World Leaders Call for International Pandemic Treaty - WebMD
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