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Join on Telegram Rabat – The World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out on Tuesday that the African continent is currently facing a crisis due to the delay of the vaccine doses.
With COVID cases rising throughout Africa, WHO lamented the “shocking disparity in access to vaccines” against Covid-19 at the opening of the annual virtual meeting of African Health Ministers.
“Globally, 140 countries have vaccinated at least ten percent of their populations, but in our continent, only four countries have been able to reach that target, owing to the shocking disparity in access to vaccines.” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO disclosed at the meeting.
As only four African countries reached their inoculation targets so far, the Director-General of WHO requested all the African countries to support “an international treaty or any other legal instrument to improve international cooperation” in the response to the pandemic. This treaty could be discussed in November at a special session of the World Health Assembly.
“The vaccine crisis illustrates the fundamental weakness at the root of the pandemic: the lack of global solidarity and sharing”, hence, seeking and strengthening global solidarity and sharing would help the continent protect its vulnerable people.
The lack of sharing is not limited to vaccine doses only, but includes the sharing of information and data, biological samples, resources, technology and tools, the Director General adds.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Africa Regional Director highlights that COVAX, a global project co-sponsored by WHO, seeks to provide vaccines to countries with weaker economies. The project has so far provided 40 million doses of vaccines to African countries to protect the population from severe COVID illness and death.
“We deeply regret the delays and difficulties in keeping to agreements due to unforeseen factors as the pandemic unfolded. We have indeed learned many lessons.” Moeti explains.
Indeed, the Covid-19 epidemic represents “both an opportunity and a stark reminder to re-think systems that strengthen equity, and to invest more in the development of a healthier, fairer world.” Moeti adds.
In addition to the response to Covid-19, the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa will also orient the discussion toward other diseases, such as polio, cervical cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, STDs, hepatitis and meningitis.
