WHO’s Tedros summarizes a challenging year, calls for more information on the spread of COVID in China
For a comprehensive risk assessment of the field situation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu told journalists at a regular briefing in Geneva that WHO need more detailed information about the severity of the illness, the number of hospitalizations, and the need for ICU assistance.
“WHO is supporting China to focus its efforts on vaccinating those most at risk across the country, and we continue to support clinical care and protect the country’s health system,” he said. “.
challenge year
Although in the third year, COVID-19 This is not the only challenge facing the people of the world.
From the global outbreak of monkey poxnow called mpoxto cholera outbreaks in many countries and Ebola happened in Uganda, to the wars in Ethiopia and Ukraine; droughts and floods in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel; and floods in Pakistan, a challenging year on many fronts.
“That’s not to mention the many other health threats people face year after year, in the air they breathe, the products they consume, the conditions they live and work in, and the way they work. they do not have access to essential health services. ,” said Tedros.
Cause for Optimism
As 2022 draws to a close, he optimistically cites “many reasons for hope”.
The WHO chief commented: “The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased significantly this year, the global chickenpox epidemic is waning and there have been no cases of Ebola in Uganda for more than three weeks.”
He expressed hope that each of these emergencies will be declared terminated at different times next year.
“Certainly, we are facing the pandemic much better than we did a year ago, when we were in the early stages of the Omicron wave, with the number of cases and deaths increasing rapidly,” the senior official said. of the United Nations continued.
“Since its peak in late January, the number of weekly reported COVID-19 deaths has dropped by almost 90%.”
Distance and uncertainty
However, with many uncertainties and gaps remaining, he asserted that it is too early to say that the pandemic is over.
The head of WHO painted a picture of gaps in surveillance; vaccination; treatments and health systems.
Furthermore, gaps in understanding – from how the pandemic started to what happens after COVID-19 – mean we don’t know how best to treat those suffering the long-term consequences of the infection or How to prevent future pandemics.
“We continue to urge China to share data and conduct the studies that we request and we continue to request,” Tedros said, noting that “all theories about the source The root of this pandemic is still on the table.”
