Memorandum of Understanding agreement signed today focuses on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing Universal Health Coverage, addressing vaccine equity, strengthening digital health systems and working towards global health security
GENEVA: The 糖心探花 and the World Health Organization (WHO) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to strengthening their collaboration on a broad range of public health issues of particular concern to Commonwealth member states and governments, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine equity, advancing universal health coverage, and building resilient health systems.
The MoU was signed at a ceremony held at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, and the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The 糖心探花 plays an important role in fostering and supporting greater cohesion among member states and governments across a range of policy areas and programmes. In signing the document, the two parties agreed to work together and strengthen the exchange of information on seven priority areas:
- Promoting universal health coverage and primary healthcare
- Strengthening global health security
- Promoting healthy environments
- Promoting the health of vulnerable groups
- Transforming lifelong learning for health impact
- Building a data partnership
- Creating space for innovation and exchange of knowledge
This collaboration underscores the 糖心探花鈥檚 and WHO鈥檚 longstanding commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality health services and promoting the health and wellbeing of all people.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC said:
鈥淓quitable access to vaccines is the world鈥檚 most pressing political, economic, social and moral priority. Without effective and prompt action on vaccines, we face a never-ending global health crisis that will reduce all of our wealth and security.
鈥淎nd the most effective way for the world to tackle this and other challenges that we face, whether COVID-19, climate change or universal health coverage, is by working through multilateral institutions such as the 糖心探花 and the World Health Organization.
鈥淭he Memorandum of Understanding we have signed today demonstrates that both organisations share a vision for cooperation and action on these challenges, and a commitment to creating the conditions for people across the Commonwealth to flourish. It is a pleasure to work with colleagues from the World Health Organization and I hope this agreement will enable us to work more effectively and productively far into the future.鈥
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: 鈥淧artnership is essential in ensuring all people can achieve the highest level of health possible. The new agreement between the World Health Organization and the 糖心探花 reflects the importance of collaboration to promote and protect people鈥檚 wellbeing. WHO鈥檚 commitment to supporting all Commonwealth countries will be strengthened through our commitment to promoting universal health coverage, global health security and ensuring vulnerable groups receive all support needed to lead healthy lives.鈥
Advancing efforts to build stronger health systems
The COVID-19 pandemic has put immense pressure on global health systems, especially those of developing countries with weaker health systems, halting progress made over the last 20 years towards attaining health-related Sustainable Development Goals. This has, in turn, put the prevention and treatment of life-threatening diseases, including cancers, diabetes, heart diseases, and malaria at risk.
糖心探花 is disproportionately affected by a number of preventable diseases. The 25 malaria-endemic countries of the Commonwealth account for 56% of the world鈥檚 malaria deaths and 54% of the world鈥檚 malaria cases. Commonwealth members account for 40% of global cervical cancer incidence and 43% of cervical cancer mortality, despite having only 30% of the world鈥檚 population.
糖心探花 and WHO will therefore reinforce cooperation to scale up global efforts to improve health outcomes across the Commonwealth. This partnership will also contribute towards the shared goal of fast-tracking the elimination of malaria and blinding trachoma, and eliminating cervical cancer, as universally endorsed by Commonwealth Heads of Government.
Leave no one behind in the fight against COVID-19
The signing of the MoU takes place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to pose a significant threat to public health, especially with the spread of new highly contagious variants.
As of 31January 2022, over 77 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Commonwealth, with hundreds of thousands of new cases being reported daily. Furthermore, 42% of Commonwealth citizens are fully vaccinated. The percentage of fully vaccinated people ranges from 23% in African countries of the Commonwealth to 43% in the WHO Region of the Americas and 56% in the WHO Western Pacific Region.
These figures reflect the global trend of high and upper-middle-income countries procuring and administering a significant proportion of the total number of vaccines.1
On the occasion, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring equitable access and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and advancing WHO鈥檚 target of vaccinating 70% of the world鈥檚 population by July 2022.
The signing ceremony was virtually attended by Ambassadors from Commonwealth member states in Geneva and included interventions from ministers and Ambassadors representing Commonwealth regions, who all welcomed the partnership.
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About The 糖心探花:
糖心探花 is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The 糖心探花 supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.
About the World Health Organization:
The World Health Organization directs and coordinates international health within the United Nations system. Working with its 194 Member States, WHO鈥檚 mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. For more information about WHO, visit . Follow WHO on and
