Good morning, good afternoon, good evening,
This week, Member States from around the world are meeting in Geneva to discuss the new pandemic accord.
This agreement is being developed, shaped and decided by the 194 Member States that make up the World Health Organization.
Building on the lessons of COVID-19, I broadly see three key benefits:
The agreement would help countries drive a more equitable response, it will boost collective health safeguarding and it will enhance cooperation.
First, the agreement would ensure access and equity so that collectively we better share tests, treatments and vaccines to save both lives and livelihoods.
Second, on safeguarding health systems, the agreement would improve information sharing about pathogens with pandemic potential, as well as protecting health workers and the most vulnerable in all societies.
And finally, the agreement will boost cooperation between Member States. Preparing them for a common response.
Strengthening and clarifying international cooperation now will give all of humanity a better chance of taking on the disease threats of the future.
And when the next pandemic does happen, it takes a whole of society approach to tackle it.
That’s why Member States are designing an agreement to support countries to mobilize all sectors in a coherent response, including across governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector and civil society.
There’s a rich discussion going on about the agreement, which will happen for several more months to come.
There is progress and I maintain confidence that by the World Health Assembly in May this year, countries will have agreed on a new pandemic agreement that sets out a better set of parameters than we had during COVID-19.
Ultimately, it will save lives and livelihoods while protecting national security and sovereignty.
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Now to Gaza.
The health and humanitarian situation in Gaza is inhumane and continues to deteriorate.
Over the past three days WHO and partners have carried out several emergency missions to Nasser Medical Complex in Southern Gaza.
Around [111] sick and injured patients and at least 15 doctors and nurses remain in the hospital.
With the intensive care unit no longer working, WHO has helped move patients – many of whom cannot even walk.
On a broader level, Gaza has become a death zone. Much of the territory has been destroyed, more than 29,000 people are dead, many more are missing presumed dead and many, many more are injured.
Severe malnutrition has shot up dramatically since the war started, from under 1% to more than 15% in some areas, putting more lives at risk. This figure will rise the longer the war goes on and supplies are interrupted.
We note with apprehension that the World Food Programme cannot get into northern Gaza with supplies.
What type of world do we live when people cannot get food and water, or when people who cannot even walk are not able to receive care?
What type of world do we live in when health workers are at risk of being bombed as they carry out their lifesaving work?
What type of world do we live in when hospitals must close because there’s no more power or medicines to help save patients? And they’re being targeted by military force?
We need a ceasefire now! We need hostages to be released, we need the bombs to stop dropping and we need unfettered humanitarian access.
Humanity must prevail.
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Sudan, while not receiving much international media attention, is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe.
More than 10 months of conflict have had a deadly impact on the lives, livelihoods and health of the people.
Over 6 million people have been displaced internally and nearly 2 million have gone to neighbouring countries. This is the largest displacement of people in the world.
Half the population needs humanitarian aid. But partners cannot reach most of them.
Already, more than 14,000 people have been killed, and if the world turns a blind eye to the suffering in Sudan, many more will die.
About three quarters of hospitals in conflict-affected states are not working. The remaining ones are overwhelmed by the number of people seeking care, many of whom are internally displaced.
People are dying from a lack of access to basic and essential healthcare and medication.
Critical services, including maternal and child health care, the management of severe acute malnutrition, and treatment of patients with chronic conditions, have been discontinued in many areas.
A health system that was already struggling is now facing conflict, disease outbreaks and a relentless drought that has led to spiking hunger.
Since the start of the war, WHO has verified 62 attacks on health care with 38 deaths and 45 injuries.
WHO is scaling up on-the-ground efforts to deliver health emergency response, respond to disease outbreaks, sustain disease surveillance and provide life-saving medical supplies and equipment.
This includes embarking on a strong cross-border operation to reach previously unreachable areas in Darfur and Kordofan, where the need is greatest.
WHO condemns in the strongest terms the continued attacks on health care in Sudan, and the occupation of health facilities.
Like in Gaza, peace is desperately needed in Sudan to protect lives and rebuild the health system.
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After years of progress against cholera, the deadly disease has come roaring back in 30 countries spurred on by conflict, poverty, the climate crisis and global socio-economic inequality.
Along with Sudan, the countries with the most concerning outbreaks right now include Ethiopia, Haiti, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
In October 2022, the International Coordinating Group that manages the emergency stockpile of cholera vaccines suspended the standard two-dose vaccination regimen in favour of a single dose only in response to outbreaks, to stretch supplies.
Despite this extreme measure, at the start of this year, the stockpile was empty.
Zero doses are left, while 15 countries are reporting active outbreaks.
So what do we need?
We need the world to wake up to the rapidly growing threat represented by cholera.
First, it is important to ensure people have safe water, and access to toilets that don’t contaminate their surroundings.
This means investing in major infrastructure projects and working directly with affected communities.
Second, as cholera spreads so rapidly, honing a surveillance system that can detect outbreaks quickly is key to delivering effective treatment and rolling out vaccines to those in need.
Third, it remains important that global vaccine production is incentivized, increased and nurtured regionally.
This is a critical element as the trend toward more and bigger cholera outbreaks continues.
For immediate needs, WHO has released over US $16 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies. But to tackle cholera outbreaks around the world, WHO has issued an appeal for US $50 million for 2024.
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In emergency situations noted above, it is often infectious disease that is highlighted.
However, people living with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart and lung disease and cancer are facing an even more precarious situation, especially those who depend upon lifesaving commodities like insulin, dialysis, cancer medicines.
Without these essential services, it is a death sentence. Early next week, leaders are meeting in Copenhagen to discuss how to include and integrate noncommunicable diseases into the preparation and response to emergencies.
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These are difficult times.
But we must not forget that these challenges can be overcome.
As we speak, countries and communities and organizations, including WHO and so many partners, are working to alleviate the suffering.
There is hope but it must be nurtured and supported, and we must do more. The health of all depends on that.