The 73rd World Health Assembly opened on 18 May to discuss major policy questions and the work of the World Health Organisation.
The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the WHO, appoint the director-general, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland, however, due to the coronavirus, it has been held virtually this year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the assembly at the invitation of the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom.
During the opening, Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation for 2020, said that Switzerland is working to set up a coalition of countries, representing different regions from around the world to guarantee global health security. “We need to overcome what divides and separates us in order to protect our people better. If we are to do that, we need to undertake a thorough analysis of the measures taken by different countries in order to strengthen international health regulations.”
She highlighted that 80 per cent of the organisation’s current funding is voluntary and they need to evaluate if this is fair, given the current crisis and how the WHO has proved how crucial it is.
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that a microscopic virus has brought the world to its knees and it is still not known how to eradicate, treat or vaccinate against Covid-19 and it is not known when this might be possible.
President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, said that people of all countries have tackled the virus and have pulled together to work as one during the battle against the virus. He said that in China they have turned the tide and protected the lives of their people after making enormous sacrifices. “We have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility and provided information to the WHO and relevant countries in the most timely fashion. We released the genome sequence at the earliest possible time and shared control and treatment experiments with the world without reservation.
“The virus is still raging and more has to be done to bring it under control.” He proposed that medical expertise and critical supplies be deployed to places where they are most needed and take a strong step in prevention, quarantine, detection, treatment and tracing and work fast to further prevent the spread.
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, said that the WHO places an irreplaceable role with its scientific expertise, coordinating role and knowledge of the situation on the ground. “If the organisation is to play its role in full in coordinating an international response to pandemics, it needs all of us. This is why France has decided to substantially increase its contribution to this organisation.”
He added that France has launched a programme called Act A to offer massive support to research and guarantee universal access to the tools needed to fight the pandemic. “Human health cannot be quarrelled over, it cannot be appropriated and it cannot be bought and sold.”
President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, said that they chose not to lock down the country but rather keep free movement and the economy operating. “The Korean people chose to wear masks and actively social distance.” They also kept their borders open and voluntarily participated in quarantine efforts.
“If we do not come up with a viable treatment option or a vaccine, a new wave could break out once again. One thing is absolutely clear, sharing information and cooperating demonstrates the power that no virus will ever have – a power that only humans possess…Solidarity and cooperation that will prove to be the strongest weapon we have to triumph over Covid-19.”
Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel said, she is convinced the world will be able to overcome the pandemic if the world works together.
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, said that they have watched how the virus has decimated other stronger countries and have worked to delay the arrival of the virus in the region as far as possible. She said that Caribbean nations locked down, closed borders and reduced travel to prevent the spread of the virus.
She said that small states might be overlooked. “We need to be included and it is clear that we need additional criteria to determine equitable access and fair allocation criteria that better take into account that vulnerability that we have.”
Ramaphosa said, “The pandemic has profound social, political and economic implications for all of us and impact on human health, economies of all affected countries and the lives of millions of people.”
He said that the poor suffer the most and the pandemic has highlighted the dangerous and growing inequality that exists between countries and within them.
“The pandemic has devastated the livelihoods of millions of people in many countries. The global recovery depends on our ability to accept the reality that this virus will be with us for some time and we need to prepare to adapt accordingly.”
“Africa affirms its full support for the World Health Organisation and it has been key in guiding international response to the pandemic.”
He added that Africa is extremely vulnerable to the virus and needs support and assistance. He also said there is a call from developing countries to offer assistance with debt relief, more Special Drawing Rights Allocations with the international financial institutions, and the provision of comprehensive and robust stimulus packages to vulnerable countries.
“We fully support the initiative by the WHO together with many governments, non-profit organisations and industry leaders to speed up the development and production of vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that they are distributed quickly and equitably across the globe.”
Adhanom paid tribute to all the healthcare workers that have put their safety on the line to battle the pandemic. He said, “The world is facing a shortfall of six million nurses to achieve and sustain universal health coverage. It also provides a road mark for governments to invest in nursing, to fill that gaps and progress to universal health coverage.”
He said that the virus is a dangerous enemy with dangerous features – it is efficient, fast and fatal. “We have seen the same pattern repeated in cities and countries. We must treat this virus with the respect and attention it deserves. “
He added that more than four million people have contracted the virus and over 300 000 have died because of it. “The disruption to health systems threatens to unwind decades of progress against maternal and child mortality, HIV, malaria, TB and many other of the most urgent health threats.
“Hundreds of millions of people have lost their jobs, fear and uncertainty are abound and the global economy is heading for its sharpest contraction since the great depression. It has brought out the best and worst of humanity.”
He said that six months ago it would be inconceivable that the world’s major cities would be quiet and shops, restaurants, schools and workplaces would be closed and a simple handshake could be life-threatening.
“The pandemic has encircled the globe and all countries have faced challenges in coming to grips with the virus, rich and poor, large and small.”
While many countries are eager to begin operating as normal once again, Tedros urged them to proceed with caution. He said that majority of the world’s population remain susceptible to the virus and the risk remains high.
“There is no silver bullet, simple solution, a panacea or one size fits all approach. It takes hard work, fidelity to science and learning and adapting as you go and difficult decisions.”
He said the WHO sounded the alarm early and often about the virus, at a time when there were fewer than 100 cases. ” We all have lessons to learn from the pandemic, every country and every organisation must examine its response and learn from its experiences. WHO is committed to transparency and accountability and continuous improvement. Change is constant.”
He said that he will initiate a review at the earliest appropriate moment to review the experience gained and lessons learned to improve the preparedness and response. “One thing is abundantly clear, the world must never be the same… whatever lessons there are to learn from this pandemic, the greatest failing would be to not learn from them and leave the world in the same vulnerable state it was in before.
“It must be a safer and more resilient world…Today, I am calling on all nations to resolve that they will do anything it takes to ensure that 2020 coronavirus pandemic is never repeated. I’m calling on all nations to invest in strengthening and implementing the many tools at our disposal, especially the global treaty that underpins global health security – the International Health Regulations.”
He added, “Covid-19 is not just a global health emergency, it is a vivid demonstration of the fact that there is no health security without resilient health systems, or without addressing the social, economic, commercial and environmental determinants of health. More than ever, the pandemic illustrates why investing in health must be at the centre of development.”
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