Voices on a pandemic accord
Representatives from governments and other organizations around the world – including youth groups, medical associations and public health institutions – share their experience of the pandemic and why they think an accord is so important.
August/September 2023
Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Government of Bangladesh
"Bangladesh has a huge population. We need to act together to overcome future pandemics in a better way than we did with COVID-19. This is why we need a strong Pandemic Accord."
Zoe Kahn, Canada
"We need to leverage COVID-19 lessons that we learned the hard way to equip those who will deal with the next pandemic with better knowledge and tools."
Ricardo Matute, Government of Chile Health Attache
"It's a question of 'when' - not 'if' - the next pandemic will occur. Having an agreement among governments, the WHO Member States, will make a major difference in how we respond next time. That is why we need the Pandemic Accord."
Maria Juliana Tenorio, Government of Colombia
"I want my child to have better tools to protect themselves when the next pandemic strikes. This is why I’m part of the #PandemicAccord negotiations."
Francesca Zanni, President of the European Network of Medical Residents in Public Health
"Three key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic; supporting each other; social determinants of health; and equity. This is why countries are negotiating the Pandemic Accord."
Anne Claire Amplou, France
"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that viruses do not have borders. A single country on its own cannot face a future threat alone. This is why countries need/are negotiating the Pandemic Accord."
Abigail White-Wilson, Government of Jamaica
“We clearly saw (in the response to COVID-19) there were gaps in the global health system in dealing with public health emergencies. We need to address these gaps.”
Dr Ashley Bloomfield, WGIHR Co-Chair, New Zealand
"We are learning the lessons from the COVID-19 crisis and crafting an instrument that will allow us to do better next time."
Victor Itumo, Minister Counsellor for Health, Nigeria
"In history, humankind has always been able to rise up against challenges in different generations. We have what it takes to explore the power of unity as humans."
Dr Yassen Tcholakov, Lead of the infectious disease team at the Nunavik Department of Public Health
"Health is a fundamental human right and not a privilege. A Pandemic Accord can foster equity and justice."
Dr Yassen Tcholakov, Lead of the infectious disease team at the Nunavik Department of Public Health
"A pandemic doesn’t recognize borders and neither should our preparedness."
Dr Lyn James, Director of Int’l Cooperation at the Ministry of Health of Singapore
"For Singapore, the Pandemic Accord matters to make the world a safer place, so that we never again face the same devastation like during SARS or COVID-19. The world needs to come together on this."
Precious Matsoso, INB Co-Chair, South Africa
"We have the opportunity to fix the way we're responding to pandemics. This is why countries need/are negotiating the Pandemic Accord."
Rakan Bin Dohaish, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
"We lived in a very difficult situation when COVID-19 hit. Saudi Arabia is taking part in the Pandemic Accord negotiations to bring its expertise from the G20 Presidency in 2020."
Dr Pisut Chunchongkolkul, Medical Officer, Thailand
"I saw many people suffering from COVID-19, dying and not seeing their families again. We're not prepared enough for such crises. This is why I'm involved in the Pandemic Accord."
Maurice Remy, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines
"Young people are at the forefront when it comes to promoting health and science literacy around the Pandemic Accord."
Maurice Remy, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines
"I see the currently discussed Pandemic Accord as an essential step towards a better prepared world for upcoming pandemics."
Alastair Hannaford, World Scouting
"The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the role of young people in responding to the pandemic and supporting their communities."
Patricia Bobo, Health Counsellor, Zambia
"The loss of life [from COVID-19] is what motivated me to be part of the Pandemic Accord negotiations. Hoping that in future we can prevent such an occurrence, or if it happens that we don't lose as many people as we did previously."