Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    Italy's 'Libra' to arrive in Albania with just eight migrants on board    South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest    French families sue TikTok over harmful content that allegedly led to suicides    Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Building the future of the region's leading aviation hub Saudi Airport Exhibition 2024 to be held on Nov. 11-12    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    King Salman and Crown Prince congratulate Trump on winning US presidential election    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN chief calls for G20 vaccine task force in 'war' against COVID-19
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 05 - 2021

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday urged the world's richest economies to take a central role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic by stepping up support for vaccines for all people, everywhere.
Stressing that no one is safe until everyone is safe, the UN chief told the G20 Global Health Summit in Rome "it is time for decisive action."
Guterres repeated his call for the G20 to establish a Task Force "able to deal with the pharmaceutical companies and other key stakeholders", which would address equitable vaccine distribution through the COVAX global initiative.
'We are at war'
The goal would be to double manufacturing capacity using all options such as voluntary licenses, technology transfers, patent pooling and "flexibility" on intellectual property.
"Let's be clear, we are at war with the virus," the secretary-general said. "And if you are at war with the virus, we need to deal with our weapons with rules of a war economy, and we are not yet there. And this is true for vaccines, and it is true for other components in the fight against the virus."
Pledging the UN's full support for the effort, the Secretary-General said the G20 Task Force "should be co-convened at the highest levels by the major powers who hold most of the global supply and production capacity."
Support COVAX initiative
Membership would comprise countries that can produce vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO), financial institutions, and the multi-sector partners behind the ACT Accelerator, the global collaboration to develop and equitably distribute COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
COVAX, its vaccine arm, should have delivered 180 million doses worldwide by now, but Guterres said just 65 million have been distributed due to "vaccine nationalism", limited production capacity and lack of financing.
He called for G20 countries to "lead by example" by contributing their full share of funding.
The only way out
The secretary-general said vaccinating quickly and thoroughly, combined with continued public health measures, are the only way to end the global pandemic and prevent more dangerous COVID-19 variants from emerging.
However, more than 80 percent of vaccines have gone to rich nations, with poorer countries receiving a paltry 0.3 percent.
"Grossly unequal access to vaccines, tests, medicines and supplies, including oxygen, have left poorer countries at the mercy of the virus," he said.
"Recent surges of COVID-19 in India, South America and other regions have left people literally gasping for breath before our eyes."
The secretary-general emphasized that although global action on vaccines can end this pandemic, it will not help prevent the next.
"The bedrock of the recovery from COVID-19, and of preventing and addressing future health crises, is universal health coverage, and robust primary health care systems," he said.
'The world cannot wait any longer'
Addressing the summit, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that people will continue to die if the global disparity in vaccines persists.
"Yes, the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines is a triumph of science. But their inequitable distribution is a failure for humanity", said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general.
"We can only end the pandemic if everyone has the tools to stop it."
Tedros called on G20 countries to fully fund the ACT-Accelerator, share more doses through COVAX, and waive intellectual property for vaccines, particularly for Africa.
"The G20 has all the means to vaccinate the world, and the world cannot wait any longer," he said.
Death toll likely higher
There have been more than 165 million recorded cases of COVID-19 worldwide, but WHO said on Friday that the true number of deaths could be two to three times higher than the officially reported figures.
Although 3.4 million deaths were reported in the first year of the pandemic, its latest report found these "are likely a significant undercount" when based on deaths that were either directly or indirectly attributable to the disease.
Last year, more than 1.8 million deaths were reported to the UN agency but WHO's State of the World's Health report indicates there were "at least three million".
The 1.2 million more deaths include people who died from coronavirus infection and others who were unable to access health care because resources were diverted to deal with the pandemic. It is likely that the finding will be repeated this year due to data gaps in reporting. — UN news


Clic here to read the story from its source.