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02:37
The director of the World Health Organization (WHO) praised “the unparalleled mobilization of science” to combat the pandemic in his New Year’s Eve video message, but added that divisions in politics and communities “fueled the virus.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, spoke in a video that marked the passage of a year since the first report of what would later be identified as a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The news then came from a group of cases of “pneumonia of unknown cause”.
“When people celebrated New Year’s Eve 12 months ago, a new global threat emerged. Since that time, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed so many lives and caused massive disruption to families, societies and economies around the world. “said Ghebreyesus. .
CLICK: THE IMAGES THAT CAPTURED AN UNFORGETTABLE YEAR
He praised the “record speed” at which vaccines have been developed and spoke of the kindness that has helped the most vulnerable in society.
But looking ahead, he said he would like to see more international cooperation.
He said: “Do we ignore the lessons of 2020 and allow an insular partisan approach, conspiracy theories and attacks on science to prevail, resulting in unnecessary suffering for the health of people and society at large?
“Or do we walk the last miles of this crisis together, helping each other along the way, from sharing vaccines fairly to offering accurate advice, compassion and care to all who need it as a global family?”
Funds are needed for COVAX, the plan to deliver vaccines to poor countries, which was revealed earlier this month to be struggling and at high risk of leaving many without injections until 2024.
“Vaccines offer great hope of turning the tide of the pandemic, but to protect the world, we must ensure that all people at risk everywhere, not just countries that can afford vaccines, are immunized,” said the WHO chief.
“To do this, COVAX urgently needs just over $ 4 billion to purchase vaccines for low- and lower-middle-income countries.”
He continued: “As it will take time to vaccinate everyone against COVID, we must continue to adhere to the proven measures that keep each and every one of us safe.
“This means keeping physical distance, wearing face masks, practicing hand and respiratory hygiene, avoiding crowded indoor spaces and meeting people outside.”
