The World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised South Africa for the manner in which it has responded to the global coronavirus pandemic, and in a recent move, has invited the country to be part of the global Covid-19 tech initiative.
This is an international collaboration aimed at accelerating the development and production of Covid-19 health technologies. The project will also ensure that there is fair global access to these technologies which include diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
The initiative was launched virtually on 24 April in the presence of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, representing both the country and the African Union, said he admired the level of international cooperation taking place in the fight against the virus. “Now, more than ever, the world needs solidarity and cooperation to mobilise and guide investments, and drive delivery towards equitable access for new Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.”
The President acknowledged that Africa was in a difficult position, but added it was gearing itself up to win the fight. “For its part, the African Union has established a Covid-19 Response Fund to direct resources to bolster the continent’s response. To date, African countries have contributed a combined sum of $61 million (just under R1.2 billion) to this fund and to support the work of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Our efforts should all complement each other. This launch is an important milestone to galvanise global support and to help accelerate the work being done to towards protecting us all from Covid-19.”
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