Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cnPG-DI2MTAy…

"In the summer, Africa was certified as wild #polio free. This marked one of the greatest public health achievements of all time"-@DrTedros #EndPolio

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1298305409959071745?s=20

"Driven by millions of #healthworkers reaching every child repeatedly with an effective vaccine and a unique partnership between WHO, @UNICEF, @Rotary, @CDCgov, the @gatesfoundation and @gavi – global polio eradication remains achievable"-@DrTedros #EndPolio

"However, the #COVID19 pandemic hurt momentum as polio & immunization efforts were suspended. This left children, esp. in high-risk areas, more vulnerable to killer diseases like polio, measles & pneumonia. And now we’re starting to see outbreaks of these diseases"-@DrTedros

"We need to turn the tide quickly and ensure no child is left behind.

Today, WHO and @UNICEF are jointly launching an emergency appeal to rapidly boost #measles and #polio vaccination"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

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"While the world watches intently as scientists work to ensure safe and effective vaccines are developed for #COVID19, it is important to ensure that all children receive the lifesaving vaccines that are already available"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork bit.ly/3eAwhJR

"We estimate that $655 million is needed to address dangerous immunisation gaps in children in non-@gavi eligible countries"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

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"This is a global call to action for all donors to stay the course and not to turn their backs on the poorest and most marginalized children in their hour of need"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork
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"While #COVID19 continues to evolve, we must take all opportunities to learn & improve the response as we go.
Many countries heard our call back in Jan when we rang our highest alarm by calling a public health emergency of international concern"-@DrTedros

"They worked closely with us and followed the parameters set out in the strategic response plan that WHO outlined on the 4 February.
They’ve conducted reviews, shared data & experience & honed their response to their national experience & unique situation on the ground"-@DrTedros

"As the #COVID19 pandemic unfolds, as countries have reflected, they have used intra action reviews to make their responses stronger.

This kind of self-analysis review is what the world called for during #WHA73 back in May"-@DrTedros

"An Intra-Action Review uses a whole-of-society, multi-sectoral approach, acknowledging the contributions of all relevant stakeholders involved in #COVID19 preparedness and response at the national and sub-national levels"-@DrTedros

"By reviewing and adapting the current preparedness and response strategies and identifying what is working well and what needs to be strengthened, the review gives countries the opportunity to change the trajectory of the #COVID19 pandemic"-@DrTedros

"Intra-Action Reviews not only help countries improve their #COVID19 response but also contribute towards their long-term health security. To date, 21 countries have completed them and others are in pipeline"-@DrTedros

"Today we are happy to welcome the Ministers of Health from Indonesia Terawan Agus Putranto, the Kingdom of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul, and South Africa @DrZweliMkhize to share their experience and lessons from #COVID19"-@DrTedros

We thank his excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of the Kingdom of #Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul for insightful remarks and lessons regarding 🇹🇭’s #COVID19 response.

The backbone of #Thailand 🇹🇭 response to #COVID19?

Back to basics: A strong public health response led by identifying, isolating, treating cases and tracing & quarantining contacts of confirmed cases.

We thank Minister of Health of #SouthAfrica, @DrZweliMkhize for sharing 🇿🇦’s determined efforts to tackle #COVID19.

We thank Minister of Health of #Indonesia, Dr. Terawan Agus Putranto, for sharing 🇮🇩’s efforts to suppress #COVID19.

"By conducting reviews in real-time and sharing lessons to the world, these three countries have reflected a blueprint for how countries can suppress #COVID19 and break the chains of transmission"-@DrTedros

"You can do exercises, you can do simulations, but the best time to look at your emergency response capacity is when an emergency is happening.

That is when you can clearly see what works, what doesn’t and what you need to improve"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"There’s hope and now is the time to double down on efforts to tackle this virus.

Wherever a country is in terms of the #COVID19 outbreak, countries can turn it around by driving a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.

It’s never too late"-@DrTedros

"While we invest & test vaccines to prove they’re safe & effective, I encourage all countries to learn from 🇹🇭, 🇿🇦, & 🇮🇩 & work to suppress this virus today with the tools in hand that we know work.

We can save lives & livelihoods & end the #COVID19 pandemic, together"-@DrTedros