Opening remarks by WHO Secretary-General at media briefing on COVID-19

• Today, WHO and UNICEF are jointly launching an urgent appeal to accelerate measles and polio vaccination. We estimate that US $ 655 million will be needed to address the dangerous immunization gap for children in countries not covered by Gavi.
• As the pandemic progressed, they used in-behavioral reviews to strengthen their reaction, as countries have reflected. Intra-action reviews use a society-wide multi-sector approach and recognize the contributions of all relevant stakeholders involved in the preparation and response of COVID-19 at the national and local levels.
• In-action reviews not only help countries improve their COVID-19 response, but also contribute to long-term health and safety. To date, 21 countries have completed them and others are in the pipeline.
• Today, we welcome the Ministers of Health of Indonesia, Thailand and South Africa to share their experiences and lessons from COVID-19.

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Good Morning. Good Afternoon. Good Evening.

In the summer, Africa was certified as free of wild polio. This was one of the greatest public health achievements of all time.

With effective vaccines and a unique partnership between WHO, UNICEF, Rotary, CDC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gabi, millions of healthcare professionals reach every child repeatedly, driven worldwide. Eradication of polio is still achievable.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic lost momentum due to the interruption of polio and vaccination efforts.

This made children in particularly high-risk areas more vulnerable to fatal illnesses such as polio, measles and pneumonia.

And now we are beginning to see the outbreaks of these diseases.

We need to quickly turn around and prevent children from being left behind.

Today, WHO and UNICEF are jointly launching an urgent appeal to accelerate measles and polio vaccination.

The world is watching closely while scientists are working on the development of a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, but it is important to ensure that all children receive the life-saving vaccine already available. is.

We estimate that US $ 655 million will be needed to address the dangerous immunization gap for children in countries not covered by Gavi.

This is a call for global action to ensure that all donors continue their course and not turn their backs on the poorest and most marginalized children when needed.

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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, but we need to take every opportunity to learn and improve our response.

We heard that many countries returned our phone in January when they called the public health emergency of international concern and sounded the best alarm.

They worked closely with us and followed the parameters set out in the Strategic Response Plan outlined by WHO on February 4.

They conducted reviews, shared data and experience, and refined their reaction to their domestic experience and the unique circumstances of the field.

As the pandemic progresses, they have used in-action reviews to enhance their response, as countries have reflected.

This type of self-analysis review was requested by the world at the World Health Assembly in May.

Intra-action reviews use a society-wide multi-sector approach and recognize the contributions of all relevant stakeholders involved in the preparation and response of COVID-19 at the national and local levels.

By reviewing and adapting current readiness and response strategies and identifying what works well and what needs to be enhanced, reviews give countries the opportunity to change the course of their pandemic.

In-action reviews not only help countries improve their COVID-19 response, but also contribute to long-term health and safety.

To date, 21 countries have completed them and others are in the pipeline.

Today, we welcome the Ministers of Health of Indonesia, Thailand and South Africa to share their experiences and lessons from COVID-19.

First of all, I would like to introduce Mr. Anutin Charnviracle, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Thailand.

The floor is yours, your excellence.

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We thank the Minister for his insightful remarks and lessons on Thailand’s response.

We welcome his outstanding Minister of Health of South Africa, Dr. Zwelli Mukize.

Your Excellency, the floor is yours.

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Minister, thank you for sharing South Africa’s decisive efforts to tackle COVID-19.

Now, I would like to talk to Dr. Terrawan Agus Putland, Minister of Health of Indonesia.

Your Excellency, the floor is yours.

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Thanks to Minister Putrant for sharing Indonesia’s efforts to curb COVID-19.

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By conducting real-time reviews and sharing lessons around the world, these three countries reflect a blueprint for how countries can control COVID-19 and break the chain of infection.

You can do exercises and simulations, but the best time to check your emergency response capabilities is when an emergency is occurring.

It’s when you have a clear understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to be improved.

With hope, it’s time to double your efforts to tackle this virus.

Wherever the country is about outbreaks, it can turn it around by promoting government-wide and society-wide responses.

It’s never too late.

While investing and testing vaccines to prove they are safe and effective, we recommend that all countries learn from Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia and work to control the virus. today We have the tools we know.

We can save lives and livelihoods and end this pandemic together.

Thank you very much.