World Health Organisation adopts global pandemic agreement
Members of the World Health Organization voted emphatically in favour of a potentially groundbreaking global treaty on improving pandemic preparedness at the World Health Assembly on Monday.
One hundred twenty-four countries voted in favour, after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, as its Covid-19 vaccine sceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement. No countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran abstained.
"Governments from all over the world are making their countries, and our interconnected global community, more equitable, healthier and safer from the threats posed by pathogens and viruses of pandemic potential," said Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The draft accord, which addresses structural inequities about how drugs or vaccines and health tools are developed, following lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic which killed millions of people in 2020-2022, was formally adopted on Tuesday in a plenary session at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
However, it will not formally come into effect until an annex on pathogen sharing is negotiated, which could take up to two years, after which states will have to ratify the accord.
Following three years of difficult negotiations, the agreement has been seen by many diplomats and analysts as a victory for global cooperation at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in US foreign funding.
US negotiators left the discussions after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the US - by far the WHO's largest financial backer - from the agency when he took office in January. Given this, the US would not be bound by the pact.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
11 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
India: Active Covid-19 cases cross 4000, 5 deaths reported in a day
The number of active Covid-19 cases in India is currently 4026, according to data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday. A total of five new Covid-19 deaths have also been reported in the country in the past 24 hours. Kerala continues to have the maximum number of cases, standing at 1416, followed by Maharashtra (494), Gujarat (397), and Delhi (393). Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat also recorded a sharp increase in active cases over the last few days. The spike is attributed to a highly transmissible new variant, several Indian media reports say. The highly contagious COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, along with LF.7, has been circulating rapidly in India and many other Asian countries. Elderly patients among the decased The five deaths recorded in the past day were one each in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and two in Maharashtra. Among the deceased were elderly patients, including an 80-year-old male from Kerala with severe pneumonia and a 73-year-old woman in Maharashtra with diabetes and hypertension. West Bengal reported its first COVID-related death of 2025 on Tuesday. A 43-year-old woman from Alipore in Kolkata, who had been on ventilator support at a private hospital for a week, succumbed to the virus. According to hospital sources, she was also suffering from Acute Coronary Syndrome, septic shock, and acute kidney injury. India has has recorded 32 Covid-related deaths since January 1. Severity of infections low Officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research and the health ministry have stated that the COVID-19 situation in India is being closely monitored while stressing that the severity of infections is low, with most of the patients being under home care and that there was no cause for worry. Dr Rajiv Behl, Director General of ICMR, on June 2 stated that genome sequencing of samples in West and South have shown that the variants leading to the current rise in cases are not severe and are sub variants of Omicron only.
Dubai Eye
14 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
UAE- WHO initiative aims to combat malnutrition on Yemen's Socotra Island
The UAE's Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched an initiative aimed at combatting malnutrition among women and children on Yemen's Socotra Island. Global reports say that Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate in the island has reached 10.9 per cent, and the Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate is 1.6 per cent among children under five. Internationally, GAM rates between 10 per cent and 14 per cent are classified as serious, while SAM rates above 1 per cent are considered alarming. Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Director-General of the Foundation, stressed the UAE's humanitarian and global responsibility to develop communities and enhance critical health services. 'This stems from the enduring humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. We are determined to effectively address food and health challenges faced by women and children in Socotra, in collaboration with the WHO,' he said. Al Khouri explained that the Khalifa Foundation, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, would work with the WHO to develop appropriate solutions to nutritional and health challenges using a new survey based on current data. 'The joint initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality caused by malnutrition through a comprehensive plan of action spanning over two years. This will enhance maternal, infant, and child care services, and improve emergency preparedness and response to epidemics,' he added. Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr. Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo said, 'This joint effort reflects our shared vision of building resilient health systems in Yemen. Together with the UAE and national authorities we are working to address urgent needs and lay the foundation for long-term health security on the Island. "Through this partnership, WHO and the UAE aim to build stronger, more responsive and more equitable health systems to serve the people of Socotra and contribute to a healthier, more resilient Yemen.' The initiative is part of joint aid activities between the UAE and WHO in Yemen aimed to provide urgent food relief and curb nutritional and health deterioration across various population groups. It will strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Socotra by training medical staff, supplying medications, and establishing emergency preparedness mechanisms. It also seeks to implement sustainable solutions for malnutrition, ensure food security, raise community awareness, and improve disease surveillance for more effective medical interventions based on ongoing assessments and studies.
Hi Dubai
14 hours ago
- Hi Dubai
UAE Launches Initiative with WHO to Combat Malnutrition in Socotra Island
The United Arab Emirates, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has launched a humanitarian initiative to combat rising malnutrition rates among women and children on Yemen's Socotra Island. The effort, led by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Works, targets one of the region's most pressing health challenges. Recent data shows the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children under five on the island has reached 10.9%, with the Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate at 1.6%—figures that cross internationally recognised critical thresholds. Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Director-General of the Foundation, said the initiative reflects the UAE's enduring commitment to humanitarian support and global health development. He emphasised the project's roots in the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the current leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Foundation, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, will work closely with WHO to develop evidence-based solutions to tackle nutrition-related health issues. The two-year plan includes reducing maternal and child mortality, enhancing emergency preparedness, and strengthening local healthcare systems. Dr. Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, Acting WHO Representative in Yemen, highlighted the importance of the partnership in addressing urgent needs and building long-term health resilience in the region. The initiative also aims to improve food security, raise awareness on nutrition and hygiene, train medical personnel, and boost disease surveillance. It forms part of broader joint efforts between the UAE and WHO to stabilise health conditions across Yemen through sustainable aid and infrastructure support. News Source: Emirates News Agency
