MEMBER STATES CHANGE THE FINANCING MODEL OF THE WHO: ITS OBSCURE ROLE IN THE CORONA PANDEMIC AND IN COVIDOCRACY IS BEING WIPED UNDER THE CARPET.

 

World Health Assembly agrees historic decision to sustainably finance WHO

24 May 2022

News release

Geneva, Switzerland

Reading time: 2 min (571 words)

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Today, at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly, Member States agreed to adopt a landmark decision to improve the World Health Organization’s financing model.

The decision adopted, in full, the recommendations of a Sustainable Financing Working Group made up of WHO’s Member States, which was set up in January 2021 and chaired by Björn Kümmel, from Germany.

In one of the key recommendations in the Working Group’s report to the Health Assembly, Member States target a gradual increase of their assessed contributions (membership dues) to represent 50% of WHO’s core budget by the 2030–2031 budget cycle, at the latest. In the last budget biennium, 2020–2021, assessed contributions represented only 16% of the approved programme budget.

The report includes other recommendations, such as exploring the feasibility of a replenishment mechanism to broaden the financing base. It also asks the WHO Secretariat to work with a Member States task group to strengthen WHO's governance, which will make recommendations on transparency, efficiency, accountability and compliance. The task group’s work will help ensure that increases to Member States’ assessed contributions will be accompanied by further reforms to the way the Organization operates.

WHO's current financing model has been identified by many experts as posing a risk to the integrity and independence of its work. WHO’s over-reliance on voluntary contributions, with a large proportion earmarked for specific areas of work, results in an ongoing misalignment between organizational priorities and the ability to finance them. The recommendations today are designed to substantially address these shortcomings.

It is intended that the gradual increase to assessed contributions will start with WHO’s 2024–25 budget, with a proposed 20% increase over the assessed contributions in the approved 2022–23 base budget. The aim is to reach 50% of WHO’s budget by 2028–2029 if possible, and by 2030–31 at the latest, up from the current 16% in 2020–21. This would mean that by 2028–2029, WHO would see an increase of roughly US$ 600 million a year in the part of its income that comes from the most sustainable and predictable sources.

More predictable and sustainable funding for WHO makes economic sense for the Organization’s contributors, with its new investment case ‘A Healthy Return’ showing that every US dollar invested in WHO delivers a return on investment of at least 35 US dollars. Sustainable financing will better equip WHO to deliver more effectively for all its Member States and their populations, for example through longer-term programming in countries and attracting and retaining expertise.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “This decision addresses head-on the decades-long challenge WHO has faced on predictable, flexible and sustainable funding. Delivering on the target they have agreed today will mean our Member States are empowering WHO to meet their expectations and truly fulfill our mandate as the world’s leading global health authority.” “Coming on the day I am re-elected, this decision gives all of us at WHO renewed confidence as we face the future,” he added.

Björn Kümmel, deputy head of the global health division at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health and chair of WHO’s Working Group on Sustainable Funding, said, “This decision is about nothing less than the future role of WHO in global health. Even beyond that, it is about what we envisage for the global health architecture: a less fragmented, better coordinated, more efficient and truly inclusive global health governance with a fundamentally strengthened WHO at its centre as the enabled leading and coordinating authority.”

THE PANDEMIC TREATY FAILED, THE WHO NONETHELESS WILL ENFORCE THE 2030 IMMUNIZATION AGENDA ... COVIDOCRACY WILL TAKE LONG, VERY LONG TO DIE - BUT IT WILL DIE ...

 

Updates from the 75th World Health Assembly

3 June 2022

Departmental news

Geneva, Switzerland

Reading time: 2 min (666 words)

Immunization Agenda 2030

Delegates from Member States, agencies and non-state actor organizations made statements of resounding support for the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), unanimously calling for the World Health Assembly (WHA) to note the first IA2030 Global Report and for Member States and partners to take due account of the recommendations therein.

Delegates noted with concern the serious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of the IA2030 in their countries, with a regression in coverage and an increase in zero-dose children. They described national efforts to catch up missed vaccinations as well as a strong commitment to work towards getting immunization ‘back on track’ towards achieving the IA2030 goals.

While highlighting a continued focus on COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in many Member States, delegates nevertheless called for activities and resources to be used to increase capacity, strengthen vaccine delivery infrastructure, improve data systems and enhance disease surveillance.

Many delegates called for the greater integration of the COVID-19 response into routine immunization activities at both the country and global response levels, using lessons learned from the pandemic to build and strengthen immunization programs and primary health care (PHC), including the use of evidence-based information and targeted communications to address vaccine hesitancy. 

Several delegates also highlighted the challenges facing countries transitioning from Gavi support in the midst of the COVID-19 response and raised the issue of vaccine supply and affordability, highlighting the need for further focus on strengthening diversified and local manufacturing capacity in IA2030.

In the closing remarks from the Secretariat, the Deputy Director General (DDG), thanked Member States for the supportive statements and insightful comments on the first IA2030 Global Report. Calling on Member States to seize the momentum on open vaccine research, full vaccine access, diversification of vaccine manufacturing, immunization programme innovation, quality and equity to assure reach, resilience and impact of immunization programmes for all ages, and PHC more broadly.

The DDG highlighted the importance many Member States put on trust and demand for immunization, including through access and in the face of information overload including misinformation. Further, noting the paramount importance of transparency and inclusiveness in decision making, including the continued open process of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

Finally, the DGG appreciated Member States for striving to address long-standing inequities, by reaching zero-dose children and called for the global community to work together to implement the IA2030 strategy, emphasizing that Member States’ national determination and regional cooperation will determine its success.

Global Road map on defeating meningitis by 2030

Building on the successes of recent decades in the fight against meningitis, for the first time ever through resolution WHA73.9, 194 countries collectively resolved to end the intense suffering from a disease that is largely vaccine-preventable. 

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization and partners launched the Defeating Meningitis by 2030:  Global Road Map  on Tuesday, 28 September 2021. 

At the 75^th World Health Assembly, Member States from all six WHO regions re-emphasized the importance of meningitis as a health problem with major socio-economic consequences. Seventeen Member States made specific supportive statements, repeating their commitment to the global roadmap, highlighting their progress in implementation to date and their readiness to support WHO in this global effort, along the five pillars of the road map.

Member States expressed strong support for the establishment of the Strategy Support Group, aiming to facilitate the implementation of the global road map, and raise the profile of meningitis on the global health agenda.

Member States emphasized the relevance of strengthening the integration of meningitis, diagnosis and care in Primary Health Care (PHC), and to prevent disability resulting from the disease.

Member States also highlighted the need for innovation in diagnostics and improving equitable access to affordable vaccines.

The Secretariat confirmed that the first meeting of the Strategic Support Group is expected to be held by October 2022 and that a progress report on global meningitis prevention and control will be presented to the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly, in 2023.

HOW TO ENFORCE THE FAILED COVIDOCRACY ON THE PHILIPPINES PEOPLE: THE LAST ATTEMPT, IT WILL BE VERY, VERY, VERY BLOODY

 

FROM ABS-CBN NEWS: Agriculture group warns of looming food shortage in PH

Author: DA Communications Group | 26 May 2022

MANILA – A food shortage in the Philippines is possible within the year.

This was the forecast of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) at its general assembly in San Juan.

PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said many problems around the world – particularly the Ukraine-Russia crisis – will take a toll on domestic food supplies. He expects there may be a food shortage in the country by the fourth quarter of the year, which is a holiday season.

Fausto said: “A lot of countries are banning their export to the Philippines in order to protect their own economic and food security, where do we get the food if we do not have the production?”

He said many countries have stopped exporting wheat to the Philippines and this may have a domino affect on other products. Wheat is the main ingredient for many agri products like bread, noodles and even animal feeds. A low food supply will also lead to the increase of prices of other food items, thereby burdening Filipinos more.

PCAFI offers its recommendations to the incoming administration. Fausto said government must hike the budget of the Department of Agriculture, which today only accounts a small percentage in the total national budget.

Fausto is also urging government to have stricter measures against smuggling which is hurting many farmers and agri businesses. He adds there must also be stronger bio security measures at ports to prevent the entry of diseases like Avian Flu and the African Swine Fever.

He also wants farmers be given access to credit and for the government to make the agriculture sector a top priority, saying that food is very important for the people.

Fausto said: “Agriculture is given second priority. Now that everybody is hungry, what would you do?”

Senator-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, who was a guest speaker at the assembly, vowed to push for legislative reforms to help the agriculture sector.

Cayetano said: “Ngayon talaga kailangan front and center ang mga programa at proyekto natin sa agriculture.” He added, “We have to make farming hindi lang uso, but it really has to be agribusiness.”

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/22/agriculture-group-warns-of-looming-food-shortage-in-ph

PHILIPPINES TOTALLY ALIGNED TO THE FAILING MASTERPLAN OF GLOBAL COVIDOCRACY

 

Philippine senators appeal to WHO to include Taiwan in global pandemic response plan 

May 25, 2022 | 7:29 pm

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A PHILIPPINE senator has appealed to the World Health Organization (WHO) to include Taiwan, where some 150,000 Filipinos live and work, in its global pandemic response plan.  

Reelected Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel, in a letter dated May 21 to the United Nations health agency, expressed concern that leaving Taiwan out will lead to a gap in efforts to curb the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 

“To leave no one behind, we respectfully urge you to invite Taiwan to attend the 75^th World Health Assembly to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on 22-28 May 2022, as well as all WHO meetings, mechanisms and activities,” she said in the letter.  

She noted that the exclusion of Taiwan ignores the welfare of its 23.5 million citizens plus migrants, including Filipinos.   

“Taiwan is an indispensable partner in ensuring a successful post-pandemic recovery. We can’t just ignore its plight and contributions,” Ms. Hontiveros said, calling it “disturbing” that Taiwan was not included as various experts have already said that the fight against the pandemic must remain inclusive.  

Taiwan is regarded by the UN as part of the People’s Republic of China, which became a permanent member of the global organization in 1971.        

“We recognize Taiwan as an independent state and we support its need to be recognized as a nation, especially in the matter of the global pandemic response,” said Ms. Hontiveros, a member of the Philippine opposition who has been vocal about her stance against Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

THE MARCOS PRESIDENCY BEGINS: IT WILL END LIKE DUTERTE'S PRESIDENCY AND LIKE THE OTHER MARCOS PRESIDENCY, BUT BLOOD AND TEARS WILL FLOW FREELY

 

FREE SPEECH | Group urges PNP to respect right to peaceful assembly ahead of Marcos’ inauguration

June 9, 2022 , 03:21 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(June 9, 2022) – Filipinos have every right to peaceably assemble since it’s part of their constitutional right, a progressive group reminded on Thursday, criticizing the Philippine National Police (PNP) for barring so-called “illegal rallyists” near the inauguration of President-elect Bongbong Marcos Jr. on June 30.

Renato Reyes Jr., the secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), stressed there is no such thing as “illegal rallyists,” noting that the authorities only want to intimidate the people.

“It is important for people to be allowed to express themselves on inauguration day because there are so many issues plaguing the country today,” said Reyes on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Rundown. “People are well within their rights to express the issues that matter to them on the first day of office of Marcos.”

Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator, will take his oath at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila by the end of the month, succeeding President Rodrigo Duterte. At least 2,000 PNP personnel are expected to be deployed to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the event.

Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., the PNP officer-in-charge, said they recognize the people’s right to freedom of expression but he urged them to just stay home and watch TV during the inauguration. Danao claimed that the people should give the next administration a chance to “prove themselves” as elected officials of the majority.

“Meron naman tayong tinatawag na freedom of expression, but nonetheless, let us be prudent enough to reflect, itong mga kabataan natin kasi ay naging biktima lang din,” said Danao. “May hangganan ‘yan, lalo na kung nanggugulo na kayo and you will be challenging the authority of the police.”

But Reyes noted that groups should not be restricted from holding protests no matter the situation. Under the law, he also pointed out that rallies can be allowed even without permits from local government units. Protests held in freedom parks require no permit, according to Batas Pambansa 880.

“Nobody wants to have people injured when they do their protest. We’re asking the police to respect the constitutional rights of the people to express themselves to peacefully assemble and address their grievances to the government,” said Reyes.

Just last May 25, the PNP used water cannon to disperse protesters who held a demonstration at Liwasang Diokno within the compound of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). It alarmed the CHR, reminding law enforcers to exercise maximum tolerance when it comes to protests.

Reyes also urged authorities not to be fixated on demanding permits from protesters since they have the right to speak out. He further reiterated that democracy should also hear the demands of the opposition.

“Kailangan lang respetuhin ‘yung karapatan. Dahil ang demokrasya, hindi lang naman ‘yan para sa mga pumabor o umaayon sa gobyerno. ‘Yan din ay para sa mga tumutuligsa, sa mga hindi sumasang-ayon,” stressed Reyes.

(PM)

PANDEMIC TREATY REJECTED: THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF COVIDOCRACY?

 

States cannot negotiate a pandemic treaty alone

BMJ 2022; 377 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1281 (Published 20 May 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;377:o1281

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1. Tim Fish Hodgson1,  
2. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona2,  
3. Mike Podmore3

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Global cooperation in response to the covid-19 pandemic has failed. Despite an established World Health Organisation (WHO) framework for early outbreak responses—the International Health Regulations, which require states to implement pathogen surveillance, detection, and alerts, and accurate public health communications—most states were sluggish and uncoordinated in their collective responses to covid-19. Future state negotiations to develop a pandemic treaty must look to civil society participation as a human rights and public health imperative.

States have remained divided in their response to covid-19 which has risked and likely cost millions of lives. The virus has deepened economic woes, exposing and worsening social disparities that disproportionately impact on marginalised and disadvantaged people, had dire impact on the physical and mental health of overburdened health workers, and exacerbated gender inequalities. State responses to the pandemic have resulted in a parallel “pandemic of human rights abuses.”1

It is in this context that the World Health Assembly accepted a recommendation to negotiate and draft a pandemic treaty.2 It is down to member states of the WHO—comprising nearly all the countries in the world—to adopt the treaty, but government representatives alone will not be able to draft an adequate instrument to prevent failed responses to future pandemics.

Community-led and other civil society organizations have been critical in reaching those most harshly impacted by the covid-19 pandemic—as they were too in past pandemics from HIV to Ebola—and are indispensable in ensuring the development of a treaty that is fit for purpose, is gender equitable, and grounded in human rights.

Civil society is essential to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. During the covid-19 pandemic, community-led and other civil society organizations disseminated information, testing, and personal protective equipment, and played a key role in ensuring vaccine distribution.34 They have also often provided for basic needs such as food and essential medicines to help people comply with lockdown measures. Crucially, they have frequently spoken out against grave human rights abuses that have resulted from ill-conceived state responses to the pandemic, in discriminatory actions throughout the pandemic response and in the moral failure to ensure equitable global access to covid-19 vaccines.5 If the proposed pandemic treaty is to have any chance of addressing the most critical issues that will arise in future pandemics, it must fully embody the vital lessons learned through these experiences.

The expert panel that recommended drafting a pandemic treaty advised that the “clear involvement of … civil society” must be ensured.2 It was right to do so for at least four reasons.

Firstly, the principle of civil society participation in law-making processes is firmly established in international law and standards, including full meaningful and effective consultation in treaty drafting processes.

Secondly, although the pandemic treaty may only be the second treaty negotiated by WHO member states, there are decades of international practice to draw on in relation to civil society involvement in treaty drafting. In a briefing developed and disseminated by the Civil Society Alliance for Human Rights in the Pandemic Treaty, various examples are examined which illustrate the need for and benefits of extensive civil society involvement from the outset of a negotiation process and throughout.5

Thirdly, the WHO itself has described social participation as a “key driver of health equity,” and indicated that reduced levels of social participation create a range of problems, including: “limi[ting] opportunities to detect the specific needs of social groups”; “bias[ing] political decisions in favour of the most advantaged social groups; and “dismiss[ing] population knowledge about their own needs.”6

Finally, given the dramatically broad nature of interventions required to ensure effective responses to a pandemic—from lockdowns, to vaccine procurement to extensive modifications of social behaviour—preparation for and responses to pandemics should be undergirded by legitimacy. Such legitimacy is not attainable with only the buy-in of states themselves, and requires people around the world whose lives have been upended by covid-19 to support and accept the treaty.

Despite this clear imperative for participatory processes, the WHO’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is leading the treaty’s negotiation, has provided only tokenistic opportunities for civil society involvement.7 The INB has limited participation in the significant majority of its engagements to non-governmental organizations in “official relations with the WHO”—a small group of (primarily international) organizations—with little to no space for engagement with especially community-led organizations and other domestic civil society.

Though the INB has indicated that it will hold at least two sets of public hearings. One took place in April and another will follow in June 2022. The April two-day hearings were superficial. Oral submissions were limited to two minute presentations and written submissions strictly confined to approximately 250 words. The sessions involved no engagement between INB members and civil society organizations, and provided no indication on how the wide range of submissions—many of which brought attention to the problem of inadequate consultation—would be considered. This type of “consultation” is deeply concerning and inadequate to compensate for the exclusion of a broader range of civil society throughout the treaty negotiation process.

The Civil Society Alliance for Human Rights in the pandemic treaty has therefore spelt out a set of clear recommendations to the INB to remedy these defects, which we endorse.5

Opening the public hearings on 12 April 2022, Precious Matsoso, the co-chair of the INB, described the initial public hearings as “historic” and “remarkable.” The pandemic treaty will only be historic and remarkable if its negotiation, drafting and oversight are fully inclusive of community-led and other civil society organizations. WHO member states must devise a treaty that is grounded in human rights and provides for gender responsive prevention, preparedness and response in future pandemics. They cannot do so alone.8

Footnotes

• Competing interests: none declared.

• Provenance and peer review: not commissioned, not peer reviewed.

• Acknowledgments: This opinion piece is co-signed by these signatories: Susan Wilding, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation; Courtenay Howe, STOPAIDS; Tomaso Falchetta, Privacy International; Naomi Burke-Shyne, Harm Reduction International; Rossella De Falco, Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Nina Sun, Jonathan Mann Global Health and Human Rights Initiative, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health; Joe Amon, Jonathan Mann Global Health and Human Rights Initiative, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health; Shirin Heidari, GENDRO; Bernard Kadasia, GENDRO; Baba Aye, Public Services International; Nicoletta Dentico, Society for International Development; Ann Harrison, Amnesty International; Ruth Morgan Thomas, Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP); Yassen Tcholakov, McGill University; Sara (Meg) Davis, Graduate Institute Geneva; Benjamin Mason Meier, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Thomas Schwarz, Medicus Mundi International - Network Health for All; Roojin Habibi, Osgoode Hall Law School.

References

1. ↵
   Guterres A. The world faces a pandemic of human rights abuses in the wake of Covid-19. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/22/world-faces-pandemic-human-rights-abuses-covid-19-antonio-guterres
2. ↵
   The Independent Panel. Covid-19: make it the last pandemic. https://theindependentpanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/COVID-19-Make-it-the-Last-Pandemic_final.pdf
3. ↵
   UNAIDS. Holding the line: communities as first responders to COVID-19 and emerging health threats. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/holding-the-line-communities-first-responders_en.pdf
4. ↵
   Covid-19 vaccines: What is the role for civil society? https://www.sabin.org/sites/sabin.org/files/covid-19_vaccines_what_is_the_role_for_civil_society_0.pdf
5. ↵
   Why States Must Ensure Full, Meaningful and Effective Civil Society Participation in developing a Pandemic Treaty. https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/11-April-2022-Final-Draft-Brief-on-Participation-1.pdf
6. ↵
   WHO. Participation as a driver of health equity. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/324909/9789289054126-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
7. ↵
   1. WHO

   . INB. https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/e/e_inb-1-first-resumed-session.html

   Google Scholar
8. ↵
   An international pandemic treaty must centre on human rights. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/05/10/an-international-pandemic-treaty-must-centre-on-human-rights/

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MR PHILIP RUSSELL, AN ACADEMIC BIOTERRORIST

 

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Remembering a vaccine pioneer on World NTD Day

January 28, 2021National School of Tropical Medicine, neglected tropical diseases

While the world’s attention remains fixed on the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that we don’t forget how neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remain our most prevalent conditions among the world’s poorest people.

All of the estimated 750 million poorest people living on less than $1.90 per day (the World Bank poverty line) suffer from at least one NTD, most of them chronic and debilitating conditions such as river blindness (onchocerciasis), hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. We also now realize that many Americans who live in poverty in the Gulf Coast of the United States are infected with NTDs.

The National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine is committed to developing new treatments, diagnostics and vaccines for the world’s NTDs. This includes a major vaccine center linked to Texas Children’s Hospital that has advanced vaccines for hookworm and schistosomiasis from the bench to phase 2 clinical trials, and a new vaccine for Chagas disease scheduled for clinical testing next year.

Additionally, we are committed to training the next generation of scientists and health providers that take care of the communities afflicted by NTDs.

Maj. Gen. (ret) Philip K. Russell (far left) with Drs. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi and colleagues from George Washington University, the team leading the efforts for the hookworm and schistosomiasis vaccines. Photo credit: Maria Elena Bottazzi, 2009

This World NTD Day, which is recognized on Jan. 30, brings a special sadness – not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the loss of an NTD champion, our dear and beloved colleague and mentor, Maj. Gen. (ret) Philip K. Russell, M.D. “Phil” was one of the few U.S. Army officers to attain the rank of Major General as a scientist and researcher. He was a pioneer in virology, especially in the field of arboviruses, and was a mentor to at least two generations of scientists in the area of infectious diseases.

While in the U.S. Army, he was the commander at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research(WRAIR) and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick in Maryland. After retirement, he shaped an important second career as founding president and later board member and chair of the Sabin Vaccine Institute. He also led efforts internationally at the World Health Organization to re-organize the global governance of vaccines, eventually leading to the formation of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

He also served in the George W. Bush Administration, working with Dr. D.A. Henderson to help create BARDA and our nation’s biodefense against emerging pandemic threats, which is now leading the national response to COVID-19.

Many of us at Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development learned how to develop vaccines for NTDs through the mentorship of Phil, sometimes with help from his former WRAIR colleagues, many colonels and majors who served under him. He offered one of the few pathways to learn how to develop vaccines in a not-for-profit setting, focused on humanitarian goals.

There is not a day where one of his aphorisms or philosophies that pertain to vaccines don’t come up in lab meetings or when we are speaking on television or podcasts. He was a giant in so many ways and he will be profoundly missed, but he remains with us in spirit through our actions and good deeds in science and combating anti-science movements. Our hearts go out to Connie, his wife of 65 years, and his amazing supportive family.

-By Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor and co-director, Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor and co-director, Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development

Additional Resources

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: Fighting conditions of poverty

Learn more about World NTD Day.

PANDEMIC TREATY REJECTED. THE END OF COVIDOCRACY? NO, WHO WILL PUT THE CONSPIRATORS TO JAIL AND KEEP THEM THERE?

 

WHO Forced to Back Down After Numerous Nations Rejected Pandemic Treaty

HAFJune 4, 2022

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The World Health Organization was forced to go back to the drawing board after multiple nations and the entire continent of Africa rejected its pandemic treaty power grab in favor of national sovereignty.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Malaysia and entire continent of Africa rejected pandemic treaty power grab in favor of national sovereignty.

The World Health Assembly convened last month to put forth International Health Resolutions they hoped would be adopted by give them medical control over WHO member states.

However, the pandemic treaty was soon derailed when on May 25th the African delegation led by Botswana rejected the initiative on behalf of its 47 AFRO members.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro one week prior also indicated his country would not sign onto the pandemic treaty, and assured that Brazil would not surrender its sovereignty to the globalist institution.

“Brazil will not get into this [WHO Pandemic Treaty]. Brazil is autonomous,” declared Bolsonaro, who has previously threatened to exit the WHO.

Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran and Malaysia additionally rejected the treaty, according to Queensland, Australia, Member of Parliament Stephen Andrew.

“In the end, the WHO and its wealthy nation supporters, were forced to back down,” Andrew highlighted on Facebook.

“They have not given up though – far from it,” he added. “Instead, they did what they always do and ‘pivoted’. At their request, a new working group was convened to make ‘technical recommendations on the proposed amendments’ which will re-submitted along with the Pandemic Treaty, at the 77th Health Assembly meeting in 2024.”

Indeed, Politico EU reports rather than adopt the treaty, the Assembly took up a resolution proposed by the US delegation which “sets the timeline for amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) to come into force,” while admitting the IHR will dictate “how countries should report on a potential new public health threat and set out the WHO’s role.”

More on the resolution adopted by the Assembly from Politico EU:

Under the compromise, officially agreed on by countries on Friday evening, countries will have 10 months to reject an amendment to the health regulations instead of nine months, as appeared in an earlier draft text. What has remained in the text is that any amendment to the regulations will come into effect in 12 months. That shaves a year off the current timeline.  

A new paragraph added to the text refers to another decision taken at the assembly that will see a working group discuss future IHR amendments. The new text also states that this group will look at amendments to “address specific and clearly identified issues, challenges, including equity, technological or other developments, or gaps that could not effectively be addressed otherwise.”

The Australian MP cautions, however, the WHO won’t be deterred so easily, and warns the public to be on guard for more coercive directives, resolutions and mandates, including those concerning digital ID.

By Adan Salazar, Guest writer

MEDIA, SOCIAL AND MAINSTREAM, SILENT ON FAILURE OF PANDEMIC TREATY: THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES DID NOT BELIEVE THEDROS' THREATS ANYMORE - IS IT THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF COVIDOCRACY?

 

'COVID-19 is not over', Tedros warns World Health Assembly

© UNICEF/Kalungi Kabuye

COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered at a hospital in Masaka, Uganda.

22 May 2022

Health

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) told health ministers on Sunday that although reported COVID-19 cases and deaths have declined significantly, it is not time yet for any country to lower its guard.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered his message during the opening of the annual World Health Assembly - the decision-making body of WHO comprised of representatives of 194 countries.

Noting that it was the first time since 2019 that the Assembly could take place in-person, he asked ministers where the world stood, two years into the most severe health crisis in a century.

“So, is it COVID-19 over? No, it’s most certainly not over. I know that’s not the message you want to hear, and it’s definitely not the message I want to deliver”, he highlighted.

He added that although in many countries all restrictions have been lifted and life looks much like it did before the pandemic, reported cases are increasing in almost 70 countries in all regions.

"And this in a world in which testing rates have plummeted”, he added.

Tedros warned that reported deaths are also rising in Africa, the continent with the lowest vaccination coverage.

“This virus has surprised us at every turn – a storm that has torn through communities again and again, and we still can’t predict its path, or its intensity”, he emphasised.

Global gaps in COVID-19 response

While agreeing that progress has been made, with 60% of the world’s population already vaccinated, Tedros reminded that almost one billion people in lower-income countries remain unvaccinated.

“It’s not over anywhere until it’s over everywhere…Only 57 countries have vaccinated 70% of their population – almost all of them high-income countries”, he noted.

The WHO chief also warned that increasing transmission means more deaths and more risk of a new variant emerging, and the current decline of testing and sequencing means “we are blinding ourselves to the evolution of the virus”.

He pointed out as well that in some countries there is still insufficient political commitment to roll out vaccines, and there are still gaps in operational and financial capacity.

“And in all, we see vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation and disinformation”, he added.

It is possible to end the pandemic

Tedros said that WHO’s primary focus now is to support countries to turn vaccines into vaccinations as fast as possible, but they are still seeing supply-side problems for tests and therapeutics with insufficient funds and access.

“The pandemic will not magically disappear. But we can end it. We have the knowledge. We have the tools. Science has given us the upper hand”, he said, calling on countries to work together to reach 70% of vaccination coverage.

© UNICEF/Frank Dejongh

A mother receives her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination at a health centre in Obassin, Burkina Faso.

Other priorities

The Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22-28 May 2022. It is the first in-person Health Assembly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the meeting, country delegates make decisions on health goals and strategies that will guide public health work and the work of the WHO Secretariat to move the world towards better health and well-being for all.

The theme of this year’s Assembly is Health for peace, peace for health.

“As we speak, our colleagues around the world are responding to outbreaks of Ebola in DRC, monkeypox and hepatitis of unknown cause, and complex humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine and Yemen.

We face a formidable convergence of disease, drought, famine and war, fuelled by climate change, inequity and geopolitical rivalry”, Tedros told Ministers.

Global Health Leaders Awards

The WHO Director-General also announced on Sunday six awards to recognize outstanding contribution to advancing global health, demonstrated leadership and commitment to regional health issues.

The winners include British-Lebanese psychiatrist Dr Ahmed Hankir, youth sports advocate Ms Ludmila Sofia Oliveira Varela, and polio workers in Afghanistan.

You can find more information about this year's winners here