The World Health Organization has a plan to prevent another pandemic like COVID-19. They want all countries to work together to make sure everyone has access to vaccines, masks, and medical equipment.
Last month, the WHO had a big meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. All the countries agreed to work together to prevent future pandemics. The WHO’s leader, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said this plan is the result of three years of negotiations. He also said the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the global health system has big weaknesses, especially in poor countries.
These countries didn’t have enough vaccines, test kits, and ventilators because rich countries hoarded them. But the US, which is one of the biggest supporters of the WHO, pulled out of the negotiations at the last minute. The US government said it will only work with countries that share its ideas on how to improve global health.
What’s in the plan?
The plan aims to:
- Improve access to vaccines and medical equipment for all countries
- Enhance global cooperation to prevent and respond to pandemics
- Strengthen the global health system to prevent weaknesses like those seen during COVID-19
The WHO hopes this plan will prevent another pandemic like COVID-19 from happening again. But with the US pulling out, it’s unclear how effective the plan will be.