World Must Prepare For Next Pandemic, Says WHO

Representational image.

Bhubaneswar: Even as the globe is unitedly fighting to defeat coronavirus with a scientific, comprehensive and evidence-based approach, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the world to prepare for the next pandemic.

The World Health Assembly (WHA) is considering a resolution that would take care of future emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The draft will strengthen preparedness for health emergencies and will be in compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005).

“Although this is a global crisis, many countries and cities have successfully prevented or controlled transmission with a comprehensive, evidence-based approach. For the first time, the world has rallied behind a plan to accelerate the development of the vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics we need, and to ensure they are available to all countries on the basis of equity. The access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is delivering real results,” WHO said.

“This resolution calls on the global health community to ensure that all countries are better equipped to detect and respond to cases of COVID-19 and other dangerous infectious diseases.”

The WHO also warned that countries must not backtrack on critical health goals and advised them to prepare for future pandemics by making critical health care a priority.