Thread by @WHO

LIVE NOW: @DrTedros' address at the @WHOAFRO Regional Committee #RC72AFRO ⬇️

"The liberation of #Togo from Dracunculiasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and trachoma is a stunning achievement that will free many people from the threat of these devastating diseases"-@DrTedros #BeatNTDs #RC72AFRO

https://twitter.com/WHOAFRO/status/1561686087306776576?s=20&t=PyRgvv30HQGLjUGsfo59oQ

@DrTedros "It is very pleasing to see that reported #COVID19 cases and deaths in the @WHOAFRO region are now at their lowest levels since the pandemic began"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO "Despite the appalling inequity in access to vaccines; misinformation and disinformation; and the many competing priorities you face, we are now seeing encouraging progress in vaccination coverage in the region"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #VaccinEquity #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO "Only 10 countries have less than 10% coverage, most of which are facing humanitarian emergencies. It’s pleasing to see that coverage of high-priority groups is improving, with 10 Member States having now reached 100% vaccination coverage of 👩‍⚕️"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO "We still have a lot of work left ahead of us. Our continent is by no means out of the woods. We continue to urge all Member States to commit to vaccinating 100% of health workers & 100% of people aged over 60, while still targeting the 70% overall"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO #COVID19

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO "In particular, immunization coverage has been badly affected, leaving 11 million infants unvaccinated or under-vaccinated in the region. We are now witnessing disturbingly large #measles outbreaks in many Member States"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork #RC72AFRO

"I urge all Member States to prioritize the rapid restoration of immunization services, as the cornerstone of your recovery efforts. This is essential to protect Africa’s children – the future of our continent – from a range of diseases, including polio"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros "Meanwhile, the world is waking up to a disease that has long afflicted many African Member States: #monkeypox. Although just 1% of all cases reported this year are from Africa, the region accounts for seven of the twelve reported deaths"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros "As countries in Europe and the Americas clamour for vaccines, WHO is working with countries and manufacturers to avoid a repeat of the inequity we witnessed with access to #COVID19 vaccines last year"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO #monkeypox

@DrTedros "WHO is deeply concerned about the health & humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Greater #HornofAfrica, where millions of people are facing starvation due to a confluence of drought, #climatechange, conflict & increasing prices for food, fuel & fertilizer"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros "WHO is working on the ground to respond to prevent, detect and control outbreaks, to treat malnutrition and to provide essential health services and medicines"-@DrTedros #HornofAfrica #RC72AFRO

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1561750155124248577?s=20&t=w5xdOUs8EW-FVva0KErg7Q

@DrTedros "Since this is my first trip after I started my second term, I will be happy to outline the five priorities:
1️⃣promoting health
2️⃣providing health
3️⃣protecting health
4️⃣powering health
5️⃣performing and partnering for health"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO bit.ly/3AfUmkm

"1️⃣ promoting health.

Realising our vision for the highest attainable standard of health starts not in the clinic or the hospital, but in schools, streets, supermarkets, households and cities"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll #RC72AFRO

"We are calling on all Member States to make an urgent paradigm shift, towards promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes, and creating the conditions for health to thrive"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros "2️⃣ providing health, by reorienting health systems towards primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage. We know that 90% of essential health services can be delivered at the primary health care level"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros "So, in delivering health, the focus should be primary health care. Many countries, including high-income countries, were surprised by #COVID19 because they hadn't invested in primary health care"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll #RC72AFRO

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1561750672487358464?s=20&t=w5xdOUs8EW-FVva0KErg7Q

"3️⃣ protecting health by strengthening the 🌍 architecture for health emergency preparedness, response & resilience. The #monkeypox outbreak is yet more evidence that the 🌍’s collective failure to address neglected diseases in neglected communities puts us all at risk"-@DrTedros

"Member States are now negotiating a new #PandemicAccord, & at its last meeting the Intl. Negotiating Body agreed that this instrument would be legally binding. Which is very good news. I urge all African Member States to engage actively in this process"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO

"4️⃣ powering health by harnessing science, research, innovation, data, and digital technologies;

5️⃣ performing and partnering for health, by building a stronger WHO that delivers results, and is reinforced to play its leading role"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO bit.ly/3AfUmkm

"The pandemic has demonstrated not only why the 🌍 needs WHO, but why the 🌍 needs a stronger, empowered and sustainably financed WHO. I thank all Member States for the historic commitment you made at #WHA75 to gradually increase assessed contributions to 50%"-@DrTedros #RC72AFRO

@DrTedros The full remarks by @DrTedros at the opening of @WHOAFRO Regional Committee meeting - 22 August 2022 ➡️ bit.ly/3AfUmkm #RC72AFRO