Today: 14 March 2025
1 June 2021
1 min read

WHO Chief calls for global pandemic treaty

Ghebreyesus said that the defining characteristic of the pandemic is the lack of sharing: of data, information, pathogens, technologies and resources…reports Asian Lite News.

The Covid-19 pandemic has proved that the world needs a pandemic treaty to strengthen both the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health security, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday.

“This is an idea whose time has come,” said Ghebreyesus, in his closing remarks at the WHO’s 74th World Health Assembly (WHA), which took placee online from May 24 to Tuesday.

Ghebreyesus said that the defining characteristic of the pandemic is the lack of sharing: of data, information, pathogens, technologies and resources.

“A treaty would foster improved sharing, trust and accountability, and provide the solid foundation on which to build other mechanisms for global health security.

“Pandemics are a threat to all of us. So we must work together to build a healthier, safer, fairer future — for all of us,” he said.

At the 2021 WHA, which had the theme “Ending this pandemic, preventing the next one”, Ghebreyesus also called for a stronger and better-financed WHO.

“At present, pathogens have greater power than WHO. They are emerging more frequently in a planet out of balance. They exploit our interconnectedness and expose our inequities and divisions” he noted.

People head to the entrance of a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago, the United States,

“The safety of the world’s people cannot rely solely on the goodwill of governments,” Ghebreyesus said, adding the need for more resources and authority along with an international treaty to connect countries that would strengthen the world’s health security.

Ghebreyesus noted that the continuing decline in global Covid cases and deaths is very encouraging, “but it would be a monumental error for any country to think the danger has passed”.

The world still faces “the same vulnerabilities that allowed a small outbreak to become a global pandemic”, he said.

ALSO READ-Indigenous nasal vaccines could be game changer: WHO Chief Scientist

READ MORE-WHO likely to restudy Wuhan lab origin theory of Covid-19

Previous Story

Pak journo taken off air for speaking against media curbs

Next Story

Salman: This is a phase and it shall pass

Latest from -Top News

US shutdown looms as Democrats weigh funding fight

The proposed package would keep the government running through September, but Democratic lawmakers are under intense pressure from their party’s grassroots to reject the bill, which includes deep spending cuts that many

MBS Hosts Zelensky in Jeddah

Zelensky arrived in the Saudi coastal city earlier on Monday, ahead of US-Ukraine talks….reports Asian Lite News Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jeddah on Monday
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Israel launches 25 million plan to support tour guides amid pandemic

Israel’s Tourism Ministry has launched a 25 million shekel ($7

Africa’s Covid-19 cases reach 8.8 mn

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 8,797,227