The previous 12 months noticed vital milestones and challenges in international public well being but in addition immense and avoidable struggling, the Director-Common of the World Well being Group (WHO) stated on Tuesday.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted key achievements throughout 2023 – which additionally marked the company’s seventy fifth anniversary – and set out goals for the approaching 12 months.
“In Might, I declared an finish to COVID-19 as a public well being emergency of worldwide concern. This marked a turning level for the world following three years of disaster, ache, and loss for individuals all over the place. I’m glad to see that life has returned to regular,” he stated in a video message.
New vaccines
Dr. Tedros additionally pointed to different achievements, akin to the tip of the mpox outbreak as a world well being emergency and the approval of recent vaccines for dengue, meningitis and malaria which threaten tens of millions worldwide, primarily probably the most susceptible.
Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Belize achieved malaria-free standing, and progress was made in eliminating some tropical illnesses in varied nations, together with sleeping illness in Ghana; trachoma in Benin, Mali, and Iraq, and lymphatic filariasis in Bangladesh and Lao.
“The trail to eradicating one other vaccine-preventable illness – polio – has reached its final mile. Thirty extra nations launched the HPV vaccine, advancing our purpose to eradicate cervical most cancers,” he stated.
Local weather impacts
2023 additionally noticed elevated consideration to the well being impacts of the local weather disaster, he added. Well being points featured prominently on the agenda of the COP28 convention in Dubai, the place a global declaration on climate and health was issued, emphasizing the intersection of environmental and public well being challenges.
Moreover, in September, Heads of State on the United Nations Common Meeting dedicated to advancing common well being protection, ending tuberculosis, and defending the world from future pandemics.
“Every of those achievements, and plenty of extra, demonstrated the facility of science, options and solidarity to guard and promote well being,” he emphasised.
‘Immense and avoidable struggling’
Tedros additionally acknowledged the “immense and avoidable struggling and threats to well being” over the previous 12 months.
He stated the barbaric assaults by Hamas on Israel on 7 October left round 1,300 individuals useless and over 200 taken hostage, whereas experiences of gender-based violence and mistreatment of hostages had been deplorable.
The devastating assault on Gaza that adopted has killed greater than 20,000 individuals – primarily ladies and youngsters – and injured over 53,000, he continued.
No peace, no well being
The WHO chief expressed deep concern over the affect on healthcare infrastructure, noting that “as of twenty-two December, solely 9 of 36 well being amenities in Gaza had been partially useful, with solely 4 providing probably the most primary of providers within the north.” He as soon as once more referred to as for an instantaneous ceasefire.
The worldwide panorama was additionally marked by battle and insecurity in nations akin to Sudan, Ukraine, Ethiopia and Myanmar.
“With out peace, there isn’t any well being, and with out well being, there may be no peace,” stated Tedros.
He famous that along with conflict-related challenges, points like poverty, lack of entry to scrub water and hygiene, contributed to the unfold of infectious illnesses. The resurgence of cholera, with over 40 outbreaks worldwide, raised specific concern.
Trying forward
Seeking to 2024, the WHO chief highlighted the chance to handle gaps in international pandemic preparedness.
He stated Governments, are at the moment negotiating the first-ever international settlement aimed toward enhancing collaboration, cooperation, and fairness in responding to pandemics of the longer term.
“The Pandemic Accord and plans to strengthen the Worldwide Well being Laws symbolize monumental actions by governments to create a safer and more healthy world,” Tedros affirmed.
The WHO Director-Common concluded his message by expressing gratitude to well being employees, companions and colleagues, underscoring the shared journey to attain Well being for All.
