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The United Nations is commemorating the first International Epidemic Preparedness Day on Sunday, underscoring the need to learn lessons from the coronavirus pandemic and urging greater solidarity within and between countries in dealing with future health emergencies.
“This first-ever celebration of International Epidemic Preparedness Day falls at the end of a year in which a scenario many feared tragically became a reality … As we strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, we must think about the next ”, said the Secretary -General António Guterres said in a message.
He also highlighted the need for strong health and social protection systems, support for frontline communities, and technical cooperation for the countries.
“In all this work, science must be our guide. Solidarity and coordination are crucial, within and between countries; no one is safe unless we all are, ”added the Secretary General.
Mr. Guterres also honored medical professionals, front-line staff and essential workers globally for their “remarkable commitment” to the coronavirus pandemic.
“As we recover from the pandemic, let us be determined to strengthen our prevention capabilities to be prepared when the world faces the next outbreak,” he urged.
We can’t be complacent
Similarly, Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly, stressed that the “devastating experience” of the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the benefits of addressing epidemics.
“If we prepare, we can save lives and prevent epidemics from becoming pandemics,” he said, adding that COVID-19 “should be our final warning.”
“We cannot afford to be complacent and we must learn from our mistakes.”
Mr. Bozkir urged everyone to join him in trusting science, supporting early warning mechanisms and coming together in solidarity.
“We will prepare like never before, so that epidemics and pandemics can no longer cause the kind of suffering we have seen around the world this year,” urged the President of the General Assembly.
A focus on health
In a separate message, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), highlighted the importance of a “One Health Approach”, which integrates human health, animal health and health plant, as well as environmental factors.
This is even more important given that 75 percent of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic, caused by germs that spread between animals and people.
“Any effort to improve human health is doomed unless it addresses the critical human-animal interface,” said Dr. Tedros.
The WHO chief also urged countries to invest in preparedness capacity to prevent, detect and mitigate emergencies, and reiterated the importance of having strong primary health systems as the basis for universal health coverage and as “eyes and ears “of health systems around the world.
“True preparedness is not just a health sector job, it requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he added.
The international day
The International Day of Preparedness for Epidemics, which will be commemorated on December 27 of each year, was proclaimed earlier this month by the General Assembly, to defend the importance of prevention, preparedness and collaboration against epidemics.
The General Assembly also recognized the role of the United Nations system, in particular WHO, in coordinating responses to epidemics and in supporting efforts to prevent, mitigate and address the impacts of infectious diseases.
This International Day coincides with the date of birth of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist, responsible for pioneering work on vaccines.
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