Almost 3 million cases of coronavirus diagnosed and 207,000 deaths worldwide. Most of Europe is implementing escalating measures of lack of confidence while the United States seems unable to stop the curve – almost 55,000 deaths and one million infected – and China experiences a clear decline in new infections with the milestone of three this Sunday.
Another Monday in which the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom, has addressed the world to again emphasize the need for “solidarity” between governments to minimize the ravages of the pandemic. “The launch of the Covid-19 Tool Access Accelerator initiative last Friday is another powerful demonstration of that solidarity.” Adhanom recalled that it is vital that this response is maintained “both in the short and long term.” “If we are not united, the virus will take advantage of the gaps between us and create havoc. We can only defeat this virus from unity at the national level and solidarity at the global level.”
Despite admitting that data in Europe is declining and remembering that governments must ensure the ability to “detect, isolate, test and treat all cases of coronavirus and to track all such contacts to ensure that this downward trend continues,” the WHO director recalled that there are other countries in which the pandemic is escalating, such as many African, Latin American, Asian and Eastern European states. “Furthermore, as in all regions, data on the infected and the dead are underrepresented due to their poor ability to carry out medical tests.”
WHO has shipped laboratory supplies to more than 127 countries
“Globally, WHO has shipped millions of units of coronavirus protective equipment to 105 countries, and laboratory supplies to more than 127,” he recalled, before announcing that later this week the organization will launch a Second Preparedness and Response Plan and that will inform the necessary resources to respond to the pandemic in the new scenarios that arise. They have also thanked the aid to China – whom Donald Trump accuses of hiding data and influencing the body led by Adhanom, Portugal and Vietnam for their economic contributions against Covid-19. “We also appreciate that 280,000 particulars, private companies and foundations for their contribution of more than $ 200 million.”
Adhanom has acknowledged that the main objective is currently the manufacture of a vaccine to control the spread of the virus. “The WHO played a key role in the development of the Ebola vaccine and is doing the same in the Covid-19 crisis. Vaccine research has the advantage of previous work that WHO and its partners have done for more than seven years to stop other coronavirus strains like SARA and MERS.”
For seven years, the WHO and its partners have researched to develop vaccines for other coronavirus strains such as Sars and Mers.
In the World Immunization Week, which is celebrated from April 24 to 30, the WHO wants to vindicate the achievements of vaccination in eradicating contagious diseases that are barely testimonial today. “More than 20 diseases can be prevented by vaccines,” recalled Adhanom, “which are one of the great achievements of medical research.” “Every year, more than 116 million children benefit from vaccination, representing 86% of children worldwide. But there are still 13 million children in the world without vaccines. And that number is likely to increase because of Covid-19.” He has also had words for anti-vaccines, reminding them that “myths and misinformation about vaccines put vulnerable people at risk” and that outbreaks of re-emergence have resurfaced. Measles and polio: Gavi, a public-private partnership that aims to improve immunization in developing countries, aims to “immunize 300 million children with 18 types of vaccines by 2025,” which will require a budget of $ 7,400 million.