By Blessing David
The World Health Organization WHO has expressed Joy that despite the the COVID-19 pandemic that rocked the global scene, the World Health Organization’s 2020-2021 Results Report tracks WHO’s significant achievements across the global health spectrum.
The report which is released ahead of the World Health Assembly next week, showed details of accomplishments as the delivery of more than 1.4 billion vaccine doses via the COVAX facility, hence the recommendation for broad use of the world’s first malaria vaccine and WHO’s response to some 87 health emergencies, including COVID-19.
This was contained in a message released by the Director General of the WHO Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who stated that during 2020-2021, WHO led the largest-ever global response to a health crisis, working with 1600 technical and operational partners, and helped galvanise the biggest, fastest and most complex vaccination drive in history.
He said the Organization spent US$1.7 billion on essential supplies to the COVID-19 response.
“Even as WHO has responded to the most severe global health crisis in a century, we have continued to support our Member States in addressing many other threats to health, despite squeezed budgets and disrupted services,” said Dr Te Ghebreyesus.
“As the world continues to respond to and recover from the pandemic in the years ahead, WHO’s priority is to invest even more resources for our work in countries, where it matters most,” he continued. “Ensuring WHO has sustainable, predictable and flexible financing is essential for fulfilling our mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.”
He explained further that the ACT-A partnership delivered over 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses by January 2022 of which the global rollout of crucial health materials included nearly US$500 million worth of personal protective equipment; US$ 187 million in oxygen supplies, US$4.8 million in treatments and 110 million diagnostic tests.
The Director however said, much work need to be done for the world to get on track for WHO’s target of each country vaccinating 70% of its population by July 2022 even though WHO’s performance beyond the pandemic ,reveals noteworthy achievements beyond the pandemic, this mandatory policies prohibiting the use of trans fatty acids (a hazardous food compound linked to cardiovascular disease), are in effect for 3.2 billion people in 58 countries.
He added that ,If WHO is to play its full role in achieving the SDGs, delivering on universal health coverage, reducing the burden of ill health and protecting 1 billion more people from health emergencies, the share of regular, stable, predictable financing must increase.
Adding that WHO’s recommendation of widespread use of the world’s first malaria vaccine (RTS,S) has been delivered to over 1 million children hence It is expected to save 40 000 to 80 000 lives a year, when used with other malaria control interventions.
WHO’s Triple Billion targets, by 2023: 1 billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage; 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies; 1 billion more people enjoying better health and well-being.
