Today, 27th December, is International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, and the United Nations and the World Health Organisation is reminding countries around the world battling the COVID-19 pandemic, that this won’t be the last pandemic the world will face.
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was first observed on 27 December 2020, one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. The day was created and called for by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of and preparedness for and partnership against epidemics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of investing in systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks,” the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes in its comments on the international observance.
During his presentation titled: Tackling the Inequality Pandemic: A New Social Contract for a New Era at the Nelson Mandela Lecture, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said it is important to grasp the opportunities the current pandemic presents.
“COVID-19 is a human tragedy. But it has also created a generational opportunity. An opportunity to build back a more equal and sustainable world,” the UN Secretary General stated. “The response to the pandemic, and to the widespread discontent that preceded it, must be based on a New Social Contract and a New Global Deal that create equal opportunities for all and respect the rights and freedoms of all.”
On International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, the United Nations urges the world to embrace international cooperation and multilateralism in order to ensure the threat of future pandemics can be met and overcome:
“International cooperation and multilateralism play an important role in the response to epidemics. We need to stress the significance of partnership and solidarity among every individual, community and State, and regional and international organizations, in all stages of epidemic management, as well as the importance of considering a gender perspective in this regard… We need to recognize the primary role and responsibility of Governments and the indispensable contribution of relevant stakeholders in tackling global health challenges, especially women, who make up the majority of the world’s health workers.”
“In the event of the absence of international attention, future epidemics could surpass previous outbreaks in terms of intensity and gravity. There is great need of raising awareness, the exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices, quality education, and advocacy programmes on epidemics at the local, national, regional and global levels as effective measures to prevent and respond to epidemics,” the UN statement noted.
“It is important to strengthen epidemic prevention by applying lessons learned on epidemic management and how to prevent the stoppage of basic services, and to raise the level of preparedness in order to have the earliest and most adequate response to any epidemic that may arise and recognizing also the value of an integrated One Health approach that fosters integration of human health, animal health and plant health, as well as environmental and other relevant sectors,” the statement added.
The following is the statement issued by UN Secretary General, António Guterres, in observance of International Day of Epidemic Preparedness in 2021…
Message from UN Secretary General António Guterres
COVID-19 demonstrated how quickly an infectious disease can sweep across the world, push health systems to the brink, and upend daily life for all of humanity.
It also revealed our failure to learn the lessons of recent health emergencies like SARS, avian influenza, Zika, Ebola and others.
And it reminded us that the world remains woefully unprepared to stop localized outbreaks from spilling across borders and spiralling into a global pandemic.
COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic humanity will face.
Infectious diseases remain a clear and present danger to every country.
As we respond to this health crisis, we need to prepare for the next one.
This means scaling-up investments in better monitoring, early detection, and rapid response plans in every country — especially the most vulnerable.
It means strengthening primary health care at the local level to prevent collapse.
It means ensuring equitable access to lifesaving interventions like vaccines for all people.
And it means achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Most of all, it means building global solidarity to give every country a fighting chance to stop infectious diseases in their tracks.
An outbreak anywhere is a potential pandemic everywhere.
On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, let’s give this issue the focus, attention, and investment it deserves.
