The Director‑General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called on countries to cooperate in order to prevent future epidemics and pandemics. He made the appeal in a video posted on his official Twitter account, @DrTedros, on Saturday.
Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized that an agreed “Pandemic Accord” would enable nations to anticipate and adequately prepare for health crises. He explained that the accord would be a collaborative agreement, not a competitive one, allowing countries to work together to prepare for and respond to epidemics and pandemics. “It is essential to emphasise that this accord is negotiated by countries for countries and will be adapted and implemented by countries in accordance with their national laws,” he said. He rejected claims that the accord would infringe on national sovereignty, stating that only countries—not WHO staff—will decide its contents. The accord, he added, will function as an instrument of international law, similar to other treaties to which nations have agreed, while WHO’s role will be to help implement the provisions that countries have adopted.
Reflecting on the recent COVID‑19 pandemic, Dr. Ghebreyesus argued that an accord is indispensable to avoid a repeat of such a crisis. “We wouldn’t forgive ourselves, and our children and grandchildren wouldn’t forgive us, if there is no accord by countries to prevent future pandemics,” he warned.
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