WHO Chief Calls for Preparation for a New Pandemic

A global threat to human health could emerge at any moment, warns the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to the international community. The WHO chief called on world powers to immediately intensify work on an international agreement to prevent pandemics.

In his address to the diplomatic corps of the organization's member countries, Ghebreyesus noted with concern that "the COVID-19 pandemic is now perceived as a distant memory" against the backdrop of numerous armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and economic crises.

"However, the next pandemic will not wait until the world resolves its current problems. It could strike in decades or even tomorrow. We must be fully prepared," emphasized the WHO chief.

"This is why the international community needs your active participation and decisive leadership to complete the development of the WHO pandemic agreement," Ghebreyesus addressed the representatives of member countries.

The organization's leader reminded that ensuring global health security requires "coordinated actions and a unified approach to common threats." He noted that experts "have been working intensively for more than three years to create a document that takes into account the painful lessons learned by the global community, while also balanced to reflect the different needs and priorities of member states."

"I am convinced that you are ready to move toward consensus," concluded Ghebreyesus, calling for decisive action.