First of all, I would like to thank the United States, Belize, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal for bringing us together. The last time we met, in September last year, we knew very little that the omicron waves were at right angles. So while reported cases and deaths are now declining worldwide, it is misleading to think that this epidemic is over.
He made the remarks in a live speech by the WHO Director-General at the 2nd Global Covid Summit today.
He added that the epidemic did not end anywhere until it was over everywhere. In fact, cases are on the rise in more than 70 countries. At the same time, worldwide testing rates are declining, blinding us to the evolution of the virus. And in low-income countries, nearly one billion people remain unvaccinated.

To reach 70% as soon as possible, we must continue to support all countries, focusing on those who are most at risk.
Vaccine supply has improved, but exploitation has not kept pace, due to inadequate political commitment, operational capacity and money, combined with mis- and dis-information-driven vaccine ambiguity.
Now our biggest challenge is to provide vaccines in the country. For testing and new therapeutics, the problems are the supply side, with insufficient funding, and insufficient access.
The ACT Accelerator is the best way to get the life-saving COVID-19 equipment to countries that need it.
But it faces a deficit of US $ 15 billion.
WHO’s own strategic preparedness, preparedness and response plan, our comprehensive roadmap for ending the epidemic, similarly facing a deficit of US $ 1 billion.
I thank President Biden for announcing that the United States will license various innovative technologies in C-TAP.

And I welcome yesterday’s announcement of the new িয়ন 1 billion Global Health Worker Initiative.
At this month’s World Health Summit, WHO Health will present a plan to strengthen global architecture for emergency preparedness, response and resilience.
This includes creating a financial intermediary fund to support equitable access to life-saving tools in dealing with future epidemics and pandemics. I leave you with four requests:
First, we call for policy commitments to increase immunization, testing and treatment in countries. Second, we call for investment in local production. Third, we call for financial commitment to fully fund the ACT Accelerator and WHO’s Strategic Preparation, Preparedness and Response Plan. And fourth, we call for political commitment to support financially mediated funds and a new architecture for global health protection.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom addressed a live address to President Biden and Vice President Harris today.