October 28, 2021
2 mins read

WHO: Covid Exposes Unequal World

The GPMB report called for a renewed global social contract for health emergencies that works collectively, across countries, sectors, and communities…reports Asian Lite News.

Covid-19 “has exposed a broken world that is inequitable, unaccountable, and divided”, resulting in its failure to put an end to the pandemic that has so far killed 4.95 million globally, according to a report by a World Health Organisation (WHO) panel on Tuesday.

The report was launched by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), an independent body set up by the WHO and the World Bank in 2018 to prepare for pandemics, in Berlin.

It stated that from the time the pandemic began, almost two years ago, the world continues to “struggle” to mitigate its impact.

While in the first year, countries “collectively failed” to take serious preparations and act rapidly, in the second they exhibited “profound inequality” as the world leaders failed to interconnect, making “the world more interdependent than ever”.

The world continues to be “fragmented by growing nationalism, geopolitical tensions, and deep inequalities”, said the report.

“As of October 2021, as many as 17 million people will have died due to Covid-19. More than 1.5 million children around the world have lost a parent or a grandparent… Behind each death, there is a human story, a loss of potential, and an enormous gap left in a community… While this disaster should have brought us together, instead we are divided, fragmented, and living in worlds apart,” said Elhadj As Sy, Co-Chair at GPMB, in the report.

Although the speed of vaccine development is a matter of pride, but “we must feel deep shame over multiple tragedies — vaccine hoarding, the devastating oxygen shortages in low-income countries, the generation of children deprived of education, the shattering of fragile economies and health systems”, he added.

The GPMB report called for a renewed global social contract for health emergencies that works collectively, across countries, sectors, and communities.

It also framed an action plan to help build a world prepared for future pandemics. The plan includes building a strong WHO with greater resources, authority, and accountability; creating an agile health emergency system that can deliver on equity; and establishing a collective financing mechanism for preparedness.

“We must reject pessimism, recognise our common humanity and growing interdependence, and create a global health ecosystem that serves everyone. Together we must move from worlds apart to a world prepared,” As Sy said.

ALSO READ-Covid testing, vaccination drop in Afghanistan: WHO

READ MORE-No approval for Covaxin yet, WHO seeks clarifications

Previous Story

HDFC customer seeks justice over credit card dispute

Next Story

Rafael Nadal promotes the use of Kia’s electrical vehicles with new EV6

Latest from -Top News

Musk Signals Thaw in Trump Rift

Musk credited Trump for resolving major global conflicts, tagging a Truth Social post to back his claim….reports Asian Lite News Tesla CEO and former presidential advisor Elon Musk appeared to signal a

Tibetans Slam China’s ‘Reincarnation Politics’

Sikyong said the Chinese government is systematically working to erase Tibetan identity by targeting its language and religion, core pillars of its cultural heritage….reports Asian Lite News With the Dalai Lama entrusting

USAID Officially Shuts Down

USAID will be merged into the US State Department from Tuesday….reports Asian Lite News The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was officially shut down on Tuesday, drawing criticism from former

Quad Raises Alarm Over Myanmar Crisis

Quad presses junta, all parties to honour and extend truce…reports Asian Lite News The Quad Foreign Ministers voiced deep concern over the escalating crisis in Myanmar and its regional impact, urging the
Go toTop

Don't Miss

New cases drop to month’s lowest as deaths cross 3L

India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,67,52,447

Scotland to lift all curbs by Aug 9

Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of a “rough