World leaders call for unity, stronger role for WHO in fighting COVID-19

The world must be united and the irreplaceable World Health Organization (WHO) should play a stronger role in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis, said world leaders at the first ever virtual session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) that opened on Monday.

“COVID-19 must be a wake-up call,” said United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres when opening the 73rd session of the WHA focusing on the pandemic that has infected over 4.5 million people and taken away more than 300,000 lives globally in a matter of months.

“We have seen some solidarity, but very little unity, in our response to COVID-19,” deplored the UN secretary general.

“Many countries have ignored the recommendations of the World Health Organization,” he said. “Consequently, the virus has spread across the world.”

Guterres reiterated the UN’s call for a coordinated large-scale response led by the WHO with emphasis on solidarity with developing countries and vulnerable people.

“Unless we control the spread of the virus, the economy will never recover,” the secretary general said. “We must massively increase the resources available to the developing world.”

Simonetta Sommaruga, president of the Swiss Confederation that hosts the WHO’s headquarters, thanked the WHO for its tireless commitment to tackle the pandemic.

“Director general (Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus), as you go through this crisis, be assured that you have the Switzerland’s full support and cooperation,” she said.

“Our support to you is based on our commitment to multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation,” added the Swiss president. “Today, more than ever, these things are absolutely essential and they need to be strengthened.”