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After increasing for almost two months, the global number of COVID-19 cases and deaths remained stable last week. But it is stable at a very high level – over 4.5 million cases and 68,000 deaths.
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The new Strategic Advisory Group on the Origin of New Pathogens, or SAGO, will be composed of experts acting in their personal capacity, not as representatives of Member States, and will play a key role in studying the emergence new pathogens, including the next phase of studies on the origins of SARS-CoV-2.
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Even as we continue our work to understand how this pandemic started, we are also moving forward with plans to strengthen the world’s defenses against future epidemics and pandemics.
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Last month, the G20 High Level Independent Group on World Heritage Financing for Pandemic Preparedness and Response released its report, which was presented by His Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Chief Minister of Singapore.
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With the United Nations General Assembly in September, the G20 Summit in October and the Special Session of the World Health Assembly in November, the next three months will be a critical time in shaping the future of preparedness and the response to pandemics.
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Another epidemic continues to kill millions of people every year – cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and high blood pressure is one of its main risk factors. More than 1.2 billion people live with hypertension. Today, WHO launched a new guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults, which presents the most recent and evidence-based recommendations for the management of hypertension.
Hello, good afternoon and good evening,
After increasing for almost two months, the global number of COVID-19 cases and deaths remained stable last week.
But it is stable at a very high level – over 4.5 million cases and 68,000 deaths.
However, the situation is very different from region to region, country to country, province to province and city to city.
Some regions and countries continue to see a sharp increase in cases and deaths, while others are declining.
As long as this virus is circulating anywhere, it is a threat everywhere.
There is no shortcut. WHO continues to recommend a comprehensive, risk-based approach of proven public health and social measures, in combination with equitable immunization.
Even as we remain focused on ending the pandemic, the WHO is moving forward with plans to understand its origins.
Last Friday, we launched an open call for scientists around the world to apply to the new Science Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGOs.
SAGO will be composed of experts acting in their own capacity, and not as representatives of Member States, and will play a key role in studying the emergence of new pathogens, including the next phase of studies on the pathogens. origins of SARS-CoV-2.
We encourage all qualified professionals to apply. We need the best people to be part of this important new advisory group.
I want to stress that SAGO will not delay the progress of studies into the origins of SARS-CoV-2.
The international team’s report released in March highlighted a number of studies that can be brought forward without delay. We encouraged all parties to continue these studies.
Even as we continue our work to understand how this pandemic started, we are also moving forward with plans to strengthen the world’s defenses against future epidemics and pandemics.
As you know, there have been several reports with many recommendations on how to proceed, including the report of the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, the International Health Regulations Review Committee, the Independent Committee WHO monitoring and counseling Emergency program and others.
More recently, the G20 established an independent high-level expert group on financing global commons for pandemic preparedness and response.
The panel released its report last month, and I now have the great pleasure of welcoming the Prime Minister of Singapore, His Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who co-chaired the panel and will present his recommendations. I just had an excellent meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the report.
Thank you very much, Your Excellency, for your leadership. Welcome, and the floor is yours.
[SENIOR MINISTER THARMAN ADDRESSED THE MEDIA]
Thank you very much, Your Excellency, and my thanks to all the members of the panel for their work.
This report has a lot in common with the other reports and recommendations that have been released in recent months.
They all recognize the need for better global governance of pandemic preparedness and response.
They all recognize the need for better systems and tools to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond quickly to epidemics and pandemics.
They all recognize the need for better funding for global preparedness and response, including for global goods such as vaccines.
And they all recognize the need for a strengthened, empowered and sustainably funded WHO at the center of the global health architecture.
With 194 Member States and 152 country offices, WHO has a unique global mandate, unique global reach and unique global legitimacy.
With the United Nations General Assembly in September, the G20 Summit in October and the Special Session of the World Health Assembly in November, the next three months will be a critical time in shaping the future of preparedness and the response to pandemics.
Whatever structures and mechanisms emerge, WHO believes that they should be based on several fundamental principles:
They must have the commitment and ownership of all countries;
They need to be linked and aligned with WHO’s constitutional mandate, rather than creating parallel structures, which could lead to further fragmentation of the global health architecture, as the senior minister said.
They must involve partners from across the One Health spectrum, including animal and environmental health, civil society and the private sector.
They must ensure consistency with the International Health Regulations and other international instruments;
And they must be held to account.
WHO is committed to working with all of its 194 Member States to build a global system to better protect all people in all countries.
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Finally, while the world’s attention is rightly focused on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, there is another epidemic that will continue to kill millions of people every year.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and hypertension is one of its main risk factors.
More than 1.2 billion people live with hypertension.
I am one of them. But I am one of the lucky ones, I have good access to medication, I understand my condition and make sure it is controlled.
The same is not true for most other people with high blood pressure.
A new study by Imperial College London and the WHO released today estimates that nearly half of all people with hypertension don’t know they have it, and only 1 in 5 have it.
We have the tools to prevent, diagnose and manage hypertension. Our challenge is to make sure that all people with hypertension have access to these tools.
Today, WHO launched a new guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults, which presents the most recent and evidence-based recommendations for the management of hypertension.
This new guideline provides recommendations on the appropriate blood pressure level at which to start treatment, the type of drug or combination of drugs to use, the blood pressure level to target and how often follow-up checks are performed. required.
Pharmacological treatment should always be combined with a healthier diet and regular physical activity; more strictly control tobacco products; and identify and treat co-morbidities such as diabetes and pre-existing heart disease.
Indeed, Singapore is a good example of a country that has taken concerted action to reduce hypertension and heart disease, with a bill that will ban the use of artificial trans fats – one of the major contributors to it. hypertension and heart disease – from its food supply in this year.
The new WHO guideline is another example of our commitment to our mission to promote health, protect the world and serve the vulnerable.
Margaret, back to you.
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