WHO Adopts First-Ever Global Pandemic Agreement: What It Means for Nigeria and the World
New Deal Promises Fairer Access to Vaccines and Medicines During Future Pandemics
In a move described as “historic” by health experts, the World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed on a new global Pandemic Agreement to help countries, including Nigeria, prepare better for future health emergencies.
The decision was made at the 78th World Health Assembly after over three years of tough talks between governments. The agreement comes after the world struggled with the effects of COVID-19, which exposed many weaknesses in how countries respond to pandemics.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said:
The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States to adopt the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement.
He added that the agreement is a “victory for public health, science and multilateral action” and will help protect everyone, everywhere, from future pandemic threats.
The agreement says countries will work more closely to stop, prepare for, and respond to pandemics. It also states that vaccines, medicines, and tests should reach all countries quickly and fairly, not just the rich ones. The deal makes it clear that WHO cannot force countries to change their laws or make them do things like lockdowns or vaccine mandates.
“Nothing in the WHO Pandemic Agreement shall be interpreted as providing the Secretariat of the World Health Organization… any authority to direct, order, alter or otherwise prescribe the national and/or domestic law… or to mandate or otherwise impose any requirements that Parties take specific actions…”
Special attention will be given to countries with fewer resources, like Nigeria, to make sure they are not left behind.
A special group will work on a system called Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS), to make sure countries share information about new diseases and get fair access to treatments. Pharmaceutical companies that join PABS must give WHO 20% of their real-time production of vaccines and medicines during a pandemic, to be shared based on need. The agreement will become law after at least 60 countries sign and ratify it.
Nigeria and other African countries suffered delays in getting COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. This agreement is designed to prevent that from happening again. It promises faster and fairer access to life-saving health products in the next pandemic.
Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, President of the World Health Assembly, said:
“Now that the Agreement has been brought to life, we must all act with the same urgency to implement its critical elements, including systems to ensure equitable access to life-saving pandemic-related health products.”
The WHO Pandemic Agreement is the world’s first legal deal to make sure countries work together and share health resources during pandemics. It protects national sovereignty, so no country can be forced to take actions against its will. Nigeria stands to benefit from fairer access to vaccines, medicines, and tests in future health emergencies.
This is a major step forward for global health and a chance for Nigeria to be better prepared for whatever comes next.
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