€7.4-billion was pledged for research and development for vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics in the global fight against Covid-19.
The announcement was made by World Health Organization director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a virtual press conference this evening, May 4.
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“Ten days ago, I joined President Emmanuel Macron, President Ursula von der Leyen and Melinda Gates to launch the ACT Accelerator to support the development, production and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics against Covid-19,” he said.
Leaders from 40 countries came together earlier today to support the ACT Accelerator through the Covid-19 Global Response International Pledging Event hosted by the European Commission.
“This was a powerful and inspiring demonstration of global solidarity.
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“Today, countries came together not only to pledge their financial support, but also to pledge their commitment to ensuring all people can access life-saving tools for Covid-19; accelerating the development of products, but at the same time, access for all,” he said.
Recent advances in science have enabled the world to develop the tools needed to fight the pandemic.
The director general said the true measure of success will not be how fast safe and effective tools can be developed, but how equally the tools can be distributed.
“None of us can accept a world in which some people are protected while others are not. Everybody should be protected. None of us are safe until all of us are safe.
“The potential for continued waves of infection of Covid-19 across the globe demands that every single person on the planet be protected from this disease.
“WHO remains committed to working with all countries and partners to accelerate the development and production of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics and to ensure their equitable distribution,” he said.
He added that the pandemic was an opportunity for the world to come together to confront a common threat.
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“But one of the best tools is also one of the most basic; clean hands.
“The simple act of cleaning hands can be the difference between life and death and remains one of the most important public health measures for protecting individuals, families and communities against Covid-19,” he said.
Tomorrow the world celebrates Hand Hygiene Day.
“We must remember that millions of people around the world are not able to practice this most basic of precautions.
“Around the world, less than two-thirds of health care facilities are equipped with hand hygiene stations, and three billion people lack soap and water at home.
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“This is an old problem that requires new and vastly increased attention,” he said.
He added that several countries are starting to ease so-called lockdown and stay-at-home orders.
“Our common commitment to basic measures such as cleaning hands and physical distancing cannot be relaxed.
“Nor can the commitment to the tools that are the foundation of the response – to find, isolate, test and care for every case, and trace every contact.
“Just as the number of new cases and deaths is declining in some countries, it’s mounting in others,” he said.
In response to questions from Africa about the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of Covid-19, Dr Michael Ryan said that WHO supports the use of traditional treatments as long as they include active pharmaceutical ingredients that can help fight Covid-19 after medical trials.
“We don’t differentiate between traditional and pharmaceutical medicines.
“We have seen traditional medicines become world recognised once they have gone through all the necessary medical trials.
“WHO recognises that traditional medicines have value.
“If these medicines show promise, we will support the testing thereof to identify the active drug,” said Ryan.
Dr Maria van Kerkhove also emphasised the need for medical trials and testing and said there are several medical trials taking place.
“China also has traditional medicines in trials.”
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