#drtedros

by John Paniel B. Tuazon

KEYWORDS:  Vaccine, WHO, Germany, Dr. Tedros, Vaccine Production, Pandemic, G7, and International Cooperation

Photo from @DrTedros via Twitter

WATCH:  Media briefing with @DrTedros & #Germany Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development @SvenjaSchulze

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes international cooperation to combat the pandemic and other health-related concerns including vaccine and vaccine production; Germany’s efforts towards global health and their contributions are seen as relevant to win the pandemic and people’s health.

“We are grateful for the Germany’s leadership and steadfast support throughout the COVID19 pandemic, as well as its efforts to forge a stronger multilateral system, with a strong WHO at the center”, Dr. Tedros says as he addresses the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze and added that the country has been the longstanding partner of the organization and is its top donor.

Photo from @DrTedros via Twitter

The WHO Director-general also gives importance to the WHO hub for pandemics and epidemic that was launched last year in Berlin which was headed by former Chancellor Angela Merkel and that he values the project as something that will play a vital role in fostering greater sharing of data and information between countries.

He also acknowledged and is looking forward to the G7 agenda which is prioritizing health more than ever. According to him, the country had an admirable commitment to equitable distribution of COVID19 tools, support for health system strengthening in lower-income countries, and bolstering the world health architecture.

Some of Germany’s efforts are also discussed such as support of mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Africa and recognition of the importance of Planetary Health. He cited that Germany’s effort is important now more than ever and that all of this is rooted in partnership, solidarity, and multilateralism.

"Vaccine inequity is a problem we saw coming: our experience with HIV, the H1N1 flu pandemic, and other global health challenges has taught us that market forces alone will not achieve equity. That’s why we set up the ACT Accelerator and its COVAX pillar", Dr. Tedros said as he emphasized the problem in vaccines and eventually said the ACTA and COVAX can only work fully with enough commitment and funding.

Director-General also said that it is not vaccine alone that can end the pandemic and cited that many countries need diagnostics, life-saving therapeutics – including oxygen, and support for vaccine rollout.

"Only by working together in solidarity can we bring this pandemic to a close. And it is in everybody’s interest to do so, because as the pandemic has shown, when health is at risk, everything is at risk", Dr. Ghebreyesus said as he cite international and global cooperation as one of the keys to end the three-year pandemic that we are currently facing.

Dr. Tedros said that they are looking forward to being working with Germany and its government to end the acute phase of the COVID19 pandemic, which will keep the world safer, and address the many other health challenges around the world.

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