Today is #InternationalNursesDay. Nurses have been at the core of the #COVID19 response providing life-saving care and, in so many heartbreaking cases, they are there in the last moments of a person’s life. To nurses everywhere, thank you for your tireless commitment!
In this Year of the Health and Care Worker, the #COVID19 pandemic has reminded all of us how much we all depend on nurses, from our first day to our last, and why all countries must invest in nurses now and for the future. #InternationalNursesDay#SupportHealthCareWorkers
Nurses provide essential care in so many areas of our health systems, but we also need their skills and experience in leadership positions, including in senior roles for developing health policies and designing integrated patient-centred health services. #InternationalNursesDay
.@WHO is committed to supporting countries to give nurses jobs, education, leadership opportunities, and safe and decent working environments.
Today it was my turn to get vaccinated @Hopitaux_unige against #COVID19. Vaccines save lives. It’s critical to get them to all counties A.S.A.P. If like me you live in a country where vaccines are available, please get vaccinated when it’s your turn.
To make vaccines available to all who need them, governments, manufacturers and other stakeholders must commit to share and produce more doses of #COVID19 vaccines to protect everyone. #VaccinEquity
The spread of variants, increased social mixing, the relaxation of public health and social measures and inequitable vaccination are all driving #COVID19 transmission. Therefore, we need to use every tool at our disposal to drive transmission down, right now.
Even in countries with a downward trend in cases and with the highest #COVID19 vaccination rates, public health capacities must be strengthened to prepare for the possibility of vaccine-evading variants, and for future emergencies.
My message to individuals is - every contact you have with someone outside your household is a risk. The level of risk from #COVID19 varies according to the type of contact, the duration of contact & the level of transmission where you live.
Was a privilege to address the High-level Emergency Meeting of African Health Ministers on #COVID19. @WHO will keep partnering with @_AfricanUnion nations to strengthen public health services & build capacity to generate vaccine supply to end the pandemic bit.ly/3twzTlW
The shocking disparity in global distribution of #COVID19 vaccines is a moral outrage, & economically & epidemiologically self-defeating. Of vaccines administered globally, just 2% have occurred in Africa compared to 80% in high & upper middle-income countries.
The pandemic has shown that #Africa cannot rely on #vaccine imports & must boost its own production capacities. @WHO will continue supporting the @_AfricanUnion to establish the African Medicines Agency to strengthen regulatory capacity and stimulate local production.
I welcome the report on the #COVID19 origins, which advances our understanding of this virus in important ways. The report also raises questions that will need to be addressed by further studies. bit.ly/3dePL6C
I thank the international & Chinese experts & welcome their recommendations for further studies to understand the earliest human cases & clusters of #COVID19, trace animals sold at markets in/around Wuhan, #China, & better understand potential animal hosts & intermediaries.
To understand the earliest human #COVID19 cases, scientists would benefit from full access to data including biological samples from at least September 2019.
As we fight the #COVID19 pandemic, we can build back better to protect future generations. We believe that nations should work together towards a global #PandemicTreaty for preparedness and response. bit.ly/3u6XIl2
A #PandemicTreaty goal would be to foster an all-of-government & all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional & global capacities & resilience to future pandemics, including alert systems, data sharing, R&D, production & equitable distribution of medical products.
A #PandemicTreaty would be rooted in the constitution of the @WHO, drawing in all relevant organizations and stakeholders key to pandemic preparedness and response, in support of the principle of #HealthForAll. bit.ly/3u6XIl2
Honoured to speak with diplomats from over 100 countries to the @UN in New York on the #COVID19 response. I was deeply heartened by the strong calls for multilateral support, for @WHO and global health security. Solidarity is key to protecting health and saving lives.
If there’s one thing the #COVID19 pandemic has taught us in the past year, it’s that we are one humanity, and that the only way to confront shared threats is by working together to find shared solutions.
The most effective and strategic way to suppress transmission and save lives globally from #COVID19 is by vaccinating the most vulnerable people in all countries, rather than all people in some countries. Political commitment to #VaccinEquity is critical.