"Last Saturday, the 11th of March, marked three years since WHO first described the global outbreak of #COVID19 as a pandemic.
That was a significant moment that caught the world’s attention."-@DrTedros
"However, from WHO’s perspective, the far more significant moment was six weeks earlier, on the 30th of January 2020, when I declared a public health emergency of international concern."- @DrTedros#COVID19
"It may not sound as dramatic or severe as “pandemic”, but a public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm that WHO can sound under international law."-@DrTedros#COVID19
"At that time – the 30th of January 2020 – there were fewer than 100 reported cases of #COVID19 outside China, and no reported deaths outside China."-@DrTedros
"We declared a global health emergency to spur countries to take decisive action, but not all countries did."-@DrTedros#COVID19
"Three years later, there are almost 7 million reported deaths from #COVID19, although we know that the actual number of deaths is much higher."-@DrTedros
"We are certainly in a much better position now than we have been at any time during the [#COVID19] pandemic."-@DrTedros
"It’s very pleasing to see that for the first time, the weekly number of reported deaths in the past four weeks has been lower than when we first used the word “pandemic” three years ago."-@DrTedros#COVID19
"I am confident that this year we will be able to say that #COVID19 is over as a public health emergency of international concern."-@DrTedros
"We are not there yet. Last week, there were still more than five thousand reported [#COVID19] deaths. That’s five thousand too many for a disease that can be prevented and treated."-@DrTedros
"Even as we become increasingly hopeful about the end of the [#COVID19] pandemic, the question of how it began remains unanswered."-@DrTedros
"Last Sunday, WHO was made aware of data published on the @GISAID database in late January, and taken down again recently.
The data, from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, relates to samples taken at the Huanan market in Wuhan, in 2020."-@DrTedros#COVID19
"While it was online, scientists from a number of countries downloaded the data and analysed it.
As soon as we became aware of this data, we contacted the Chinese CDC and urged them to share it with WHO and the international scientific community so it can be analysed."-@DrTedros
"We also convened the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, which met on Tuesday.
We asked researchers from the Chinese CDC and the international group of scientists to present their analyses of the data to SAGO."-@DrTedros
"These data do not provide a definitive answer to the question of how the pandemic began, but every piece of data is important in moving us closer to that answer."-@DrTedros
"And every piece of data relating to studying the origins of #COVID19, needs to be shared with the international community immediately.
These data could have – and should have – been shared three years ago."-@DrTedros
"We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data, and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results.
Understanding how the [#COVID19] pandemic began remains both a moral and scientific imperative."-@DrTedros
"Even as we look back to the beginnings of this pandemic, we are continuing to look forward, to strengthen the world’s defences against future epidemics & pandemics.
This is something that countries must do together. It’s not something that any country can do alone."-@DrTedros
"We can only face shared threats with a shared response, based on a shared commitment to solidarity and equity."-@DrTedros#COVID19
"That is what the #PandemicAccord that countries are now negotiating is all about: an agreement between nations to work in cooperation with each other – not in competition – to prepare for and respond to epidemics and pandemics."-@DrTedros
"It’s essential to emphasize that this [#PandemicAccord] is being negotiated by countries, for countries, and will be adopted and implemented by countries, in accordance with their own national laws."-@DrTedros
"The claim by some that this [#PandemicAccord] is an infringement of national sovereignty is just plain wrong.
Countries, and countries alone, will decide what is in the accord, not the staff of WHO."-@DrTedros
"This accord would be an instrument of international law, similar to the many other accords and treaties that nations have agreed.
For example, the @UNFCCC does not give the @UN powers to dictate countries’ policies on climate or energy."-@DrTedros
"The WHO @FCTCofficial does not give WHO power to regulate tobacco in any country."-@DrTedros
"The International Health Regulations do not give WHO power to dictate health policy to any country.
Neither will this accord give WHO power to dictate policy to any country.
This accord will be an agreement by countries."-@DrTedros
"WHO’s role would be to help implement the accord that countries agree.
An accord that captures all the challenges we have faced is essential for making sure that the world does not repeat the mistakes that were made in this pandemic."-"-@DrTedros
"If we repeat the same mistakes, our children and grandchildren will not forgive us.
We have a duty to ourselves to end this [#COVID19] pandemic as soon as possible."-@DrTedros
"We have a duty to those we have lost to find out how it started.
And we have a duty to those who will follow us to make the world safer."-@DrTedros#COVID19
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Noncommunicable diseases cause 74% of all global deaths.
It's time for a change! 💪 Cities worldwide 🌐 are taking action to reduce deaths from to heart disease, cancers, diabetes, respiratory disease & injury. Swipe to see some inspiring transformations! #Cities4Health
Athens, #Greece 🇬🇷 has increased access to life-saving drugs to help prevent overdose through community-based organizations & healthcare professionals.
Bengaluru, #India 🇮🇳 is strengthening their efforts in reducing smoking in public places and improving compliance with smoking bans! 🚭 #NoTobacco 🔗bit.ly/40aR9Om
If you have #depression:
🧡 talk to someone you trust about how you feel
🧡 seek professional help
🧡 try to keep up with activities that you normally enjoy
If you have #depression, here are some things that can help:
🧡 stay connected with friends and family
🧡 stick to regular eating and sleeping habits
🧡 try to focus on the positive
Eating too much salt is one of the top risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and death.
WHO’s first global report on sodium intake reduction shows only 5% of WHO Member States are protected by mandatory and comprehensive sodium reduction policies👉bit.ly/3l0h24K
Guess what❓
If countries implement cost-effective sodium reduction policies nearly 7 million lives could be saved globally by 2030. bit.ly/3l0h24K
Countries can take steps to reduce sodium intake:
1⃣ reformulate food/set sodium targets
2⃣ limit salt/sodium rich foods in public places
3⃣ use front-of-package labelling
4⃣ encourage behaviour change through media campaigns
Health technologies and digital health services are powerful tools that enable women and girls to make informed decisions about their health needs bit.ly/3J38LGj
Women make up 70% of the health workforce globally, incl. 90% of all nurses, BUT
👩🏻⚕️ They occupy only 25% of global health leadership roles
👩🏻⚕️ On average earn 25% less than their male colleagues
We must address the root causes of disparities in women’s and girl’s health
▶ Evidence is growing about the link between untreated #HIV and more severe #mpox symptoms highlighting the importance of ensuring that
✅testing,
✅prevention and
✅treatment services
for both #HIV and #mpox reach all people in need – a 🧵👇 bit.ly/3mvOwbD
Worse #mpox symptoms have been reported in people who are severely immunosuppressed. This group includes some people who do not know they are living with #HIV and who are not benefitting from antiretroviral treatment. bit.ly/3mvOwbD
People on effective #HIV treatment are not at any higher risk of severe #mpox - highlighting the urgent need to increase access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. #HealthForAll
Overweight & #obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including:
🚨 type 2 #diabetes
🚨 cardiovascular diseases
🚨 cancer
🚨 hypertension
🚨 stroke
🚨 mental health issues
The key to preventing #obesity is to ACT early:
✅ Good nutrition in pregnancy,
✅ followed by exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months
✅ continued breastfeeding until 2 years & beyond.