Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urge leadership and continued action now to protect the world from pandemic threats
Geneva: The Co-Chairs of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response congratulate World Health Organization Member States on their successful negotiation of an historic global pandemic agreement.
The agreement, which WHO Member States began negotiating more than three years ago, outlines ways in which countries will work to prevent pandemics, contain threats rapidly, and collaborate to help ensure that people everywhere are protected through access to counter measures including tests, vaccines, and treatments.
“This historic agreement brings countries of all income levels together to protect all of humanity from pandemic threats,” said Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “After all we have been through with SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19, a pandemic agreement says ‘never again.’ We applaud you. We also say, timely action is required to build a safer world.”
“At a time when multilateralism is under threat, WHO Member States have joined together to say that we will defeat the next pandemic threat in the only way possible: by working together,” said the Right Honourable Helen Clark. “All countries must continue to collaborate to ensure a fairer, safer world.”
The Co-Chairs of The Independent Panel also congratulated the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body Bureau, which has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to multilateralism through challenging negotiations; and Dr. Tedros and staff at the World Health Organization who have supported Member States from the first to the last hour of negotiations.
Pandemic readiness requires leadership and action now
There are many steps to come before the agreement comes into force. The Co-Chairs urge consensus on a resolution to adopt the agreement at the World Health Assembly, and a clear schedule of work on an important Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (known as “PABS”).
The Co-Chairs stress that a new pandemic threat could arise at any time and that leaders must take action today to build the platforms which will stop an outbreak from becoming a pandemic, including on preparedness and response financing and equitable access to countermeasures.
“We need to invest in regional resilience today because it will take time,” said Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “Don’t wait. Start now to build regional capacities for research, development, and manufacturing of pandemic countermeasures. All regions must be ready to stop outbreaks before they become pandemics. Rapid access to tools like tests and vaccines are essential for that.”
“Recently announced cutbacks to global health funding have devastating implications for global health security,” Helen Clark said. “Currently, countries will need to scramble for the funds required in the event of another pandemic emergency. Leaders should be investing now in pandemic preparedness and emergency response – domestically, regionally, and internationally. We can’t afford another pandemic, but we can afford to prevent one.”
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More about The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response: The Co-Chairs, HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the RH Helen Clark, led The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response together with 11 distinguished panelists. Following eight months of rigorous review of the response to COVID-19, the Co-Chairs submitted their evidence-based landmark report entitled COVID-19: Make it the Last Pandemic to the May 2021 World Health Assembly. A main recommendation was for WHO Member States to adopt a pandemic framework convention under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution. Since 2021, the Co-Chairs, many members and Panel advisors have continued to advocate for a pandemic agreement, as a key element of the Panel’s package of recommendations including the need for heightened political leadership and accountability, finance for pandemic readiness and emergencies, a pre-negotiated platform to ensure equitable access to countermeasures; and an authoritative, sustainably funded World Health Organization.