Thread by @WHO

Resumed #WHA73 Day 5 - Awards ceremony and closing session with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cnz1nDI2MTAy…

"First of all, I would like to convey my deep appreciation to His Excellency the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,for his expression of support for WHO"-@DrTedros at the closing of the resumed #WHA73

"#Thailand is an excellent example that with a whole-of-government, whole-of-soc"iety, comprehensive approach, this virus can be contained – even without a vaccine"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #WHA73

"#Thailand’s numbers speak for themselves. Although it was the first country outside #China to report a case of #COVID19, it has reported less than 4000 cases & just 60 deaths, with a population of 70 million & one of the world’s largest & most crowded cities"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"This is no accident.

Forty years ago, #Thailand made a commitment to investing in its public health infrastructure, and to implementing the International Health Regulations"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"The country’s network of 1M+ village health volunteers, who are the eyes & ears of the health system in communities, played a critical role in the #COVID19 response.
🇹🇭 has also learned the lessons of the past, including its experience with SARS in 2003"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"But #Thailand is also learning the lessons of the present, by working with WHO’s country office to conduct an intra-action review, to understand how it can further strengthen its public health defences"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #WHA73

"I urge all countries to follow #Thailand’s lead. No country can say it was well-enough prepared for #COVID19, or that it has no lessons to learn"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"There is no doubt that a vaccine will be a vital tool for controlling the #COVID19 pandemic, and we’re encouraged by the preliminary results of clinical trials released this week"-@DrTedros #ACTogether #WHA73

"Never in history has vaccine research progressed so quickly. We must apply the same urgency and innovation to ensuring that all countries benefit from this scientific achievement"-@DrTedros #ACTogether #WHA73

"But we have a long way to go. The world cannot put all its eggs in one basket, and neglect the many other tools at our disposal that countries like #Thailand have shown are effective for bringing this virus under control"-@DrTedros #ACTogether #WHA73

"The virus itself has not changed significantly, and nor have the measures needed to stop it.

We know what works.

1⃣ know your epidemic and do the basics well. Find, isolate, test and care for #COVID19 cases. Trace and quarantine their contacts"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"2⃣ engage and empower communities to protect themselves and others with the full range of measures: physical distance, avoiding crowds, ventilation, hand hygiene, and masks"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #WHA73

"The #COVID19 pandemic has demonstrated the consequences of chronic under-investment in public health.

This health crisis has ignited a socio-economic crisis that has impacted billions of lives and livelihoods and undermined global stability and solidarity"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"Returning to the status quo is not an option.

We don’t just need more investment in public health. We must also rethink how we value health"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"The time has come for a new narrative that sees health not as a cost, but an investment that is the foundation of productive, resilient and stable economies"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"To start building that narrative, today I am proud to announce that we are establishing a new Council on the Economics of #HealthForAll, to focus on the links between health and sustainable, inclusive and innovation-led economic growth"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"The council will comprise leading economists & health experts, chaired by @MazzucatoM, Professor of the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at the University of London, & the Founding Director of the university’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"The Council is expected to hold its first virtual session in the coming weeks, and will discuss its work plan and mode of operation"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"The #COVID19 pandemic has also shown that there is an urgent need for a globally agreed system for sharing pathogen materials and clinical samples, to facilitate the rapid development of medical countermeasures as global public goods"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"It can’t be based on bilateral agreements, and it can’t take years to negotiate"-@DrTedros #WHA73

We're proposing a new approach:
-a repository for samples housed by WHO in a secure facility in 🇨🇭
-an agreement that sharing materials with the repository is voluntary
-WHO can facilitate the transfer & use of materials under a set of criteria for distribution -@DrTedros #WHA73

"We thank #Italy and #Thailand for their support for this concept, and for their willingness to provide materials under this new framework"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"Other countries have expressed interest in the idea, which we look forward to discussing with Member States, alongside other initiatives including the Universal Health and Preparedness Review, and the Council of Economics of #HealthForAll"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"In my opening remarks on Monday, I called for a new era of international cooperation"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"It is unfortunate that at this time, when international cooperation and solidarity are needed more than ever, the World Health Assembly has at times been used for political purposes that divide, rather than to focus on shared health challenges"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"Nevertheless, I wish to thank all Member States for their flexibility, goodwill and pragmatism in adapting to the constraints of dealing with a large agenda virtually, across multiple time zones"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"I would also like to thank our staff who have worked incredibly hard to make this Assembly happen and overcome many technical and logistical challenges, and especially the moderators, who managed the flow of interventions and ensured everyone was heard"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"Despite the challenges, this #WHA73 has been very productive.

You have approved a comprehensive resolution on emergency preparedness;

a new roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030;

a new roadmap for neglected tropical diseases;
..."-@DrTedros

"...
a resolution on scaled-up action on epilepsy and other neurological disorders;

and you declared 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers.

Through a written silence procedure you have also adopted the Immunization Agenda 2030;
..."-@DrTedros #WHA73

"...
The Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a public health problem;

The Global Strategy for TB Research and Innovation;

The Decade of Healthy Ageing;
..."-@DrTedros #WHA73

"...
The Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property;

And resolutions on eye care and food safety"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"Each of these represents an urgent health priority that affects the lives of millions of people, and which increases the demands on, and expectations of, WHO"-@DrTedros #WHA73 #HealthForAll

"We look forward to working with all Member States in the coming weeks and months to build a WHO with increased capacities and the resources to meet these demands and expectations"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"We in the Secretariat remain committed to supporting you at all three levels of the Organization to deliver on the commitments you have made.

And we will continue to implement our transformation agenda to build the modern, agile WHO the world needs"-@DrTedros #WHA73

"We count it an honour to work for this great Organization, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.

We are #ProudToBeWHO – your WHO"-@DrTedros

At #WHA73, the Sasakawa Health Prize is awarded to Geo-RIS, the Geospacial System of Integrated Health Networks of @Minsa_Peru, for their innovative work in health development in Peru 🇵🇪

👉 bit.ly/2Li6VCS

The Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize has been presented to Dr Errol R. Alden from the United States of America 🇺🇸 for his service in the field of family health.

The 2020 laureate of the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize is Ms Xi Jin from China 🇨🇳 for her contribution to advancing women’s and children’s health.

#WHA73

Dr João Aprigio Guerra de Almeida from Brazil 🇧🇷 has been co-awarded the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for his outstanding contribution to public health.

The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium from Tanzania 🇹🇿 has been co-awarded the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for his outstanding contribution to public health.

Professor Dame Sally Davies @UKAMREnvoy from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 is co-awarded the 2020 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion.

At #WHA73, the Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network from Spain 🇪🇸 is a corecipient of the 2020 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion.

His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the
Elderly and in Health Promotion is awarded to Professor Gunhild Waldemar from Denmark 🇩🇰

#WHA73