Home » Covid: Friday Global Health Summit Rome, between demonstrations and appeals for vaccines to all

Covid: Friday Global Health Summit Rome, between demonstrations and appeals for vaccines to all

by admin

Milan, May 19 (beraking latest news Salute) – “For over a year, the world has faced a devastating pandemic, far from over. And the Covid crisis has painfully exposed the main weaknesses in the world‘s ability to prevent and respond to health emergencies. the global community has collectively failed to take the well-known threat of epidemics seriously. ” This is the premise contained in the report signed by the panel of 26 super experts – including the Italians Silvio Brusaferro, president of ISS, and Giorgio Palù, president of Aifa, and scientists known worldwide as the discoverer of the Ebola virus Peter Piot , director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – established by the European Commission and the Italian presidency of the G20 in view of the Global Health Summit on Friday 21 May in Rome.

The event is approaching, as humanitarian appeals flock, with the recurring theme of equal access to vaccines and announcements of marches. The demonstration against the Summit to be held in the capital under the slogan ‘Health is not a commodity’ has a long list of promoters (from the Regional Health Coordination to the Young Communists and various left-wing collectives), anticipated by a blitz with a banner at the Pfizer headquarters From Rome. On Friday, the leaders of the G20, the heads of international and regional organizations and the representatives of world health organizations, according to the presentation of the world summit on institutional sites, will share the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic.

See also  Covid, the Lambda variant puts vaccines at risk? No proof, on the contrary

The spotlight is on the ‘declaration of Rome’ which will be the final product of the summit, a document – we always read in the official presentations – containing “principles” (not actions, it is the protest of some), which can act as a “guide for a structural change in the medium and long term “, to” prevent future global health emergencies “. Those who have been able to read a draft speak of an open text, at the generic moment in which, according to rumors filtered more in the international press, for now no precise reference would be made, for example, to the node of the temporary suspension of patents on anti-Covid vaccines. But the document is being finalized and it is too early to say that this and other topics will not be explored.

Still according to rumors based on drafts, the text would instead touch on the topic of investigations into the origins of the virus and other emerging threats, asking for international cooperation and wide access to information. Other points: early warning and surveillance, preparedness and response. And it seems that reference is also made to the importance of having an adequately funded and independent World Health Organization (WHO). Another chapter is the ‘One Health‘ approach. The final definition of the contents of the declaration, as explained by the promoters, will also take into account the opinions of civil society (consultations have already been held in preparation for the event).

Meanwhile, some of the issues mentioned are certainly at the center of the report of the high-level scientific group, of the 26 experts who met twice (the last on 5 May). The signatory scientists call for speeding up action to control the acute phase of the pandemic “while preparing for the likelihood that Sars-CoV-2 will become endemic”, with possible “seasonal outbreaks due to decreased immunity, insufficient vaccination coverage globally or the emergence of new viral variants “and” further probable epidemic waves, particularly in countries with low vaccination coverage “.

See also  Ferrari, Sainz satisfied with second place: "I was very good" - Tuttosport

The invitation is to have a “long-term vision” that also looks at future health threats. There is talk in several points of equity, of the need to tackle the ‘long Covid’ phenomenon, of bridging the funding gaps of platforms for broad access to vaccines and medical tools (Covax, Act-A), of investing in research by involving even developing countries. And again the experts emphasize the need to clarify the boundaries between science and politics, ask for preparation and permanent investments with an eye to the next health crisis, to improve on the front of tests and tracing but also on the procurement of health supplies.

And then there is the production chapter: for the experts, a network of regional hubs for vaccines and other drugs must be financed and created where they do not yet exist, such as in Africa or Latin America, and “adequate models of voluntary licensing, transfer of technology and patents, strengthening the decentralized production capacity of vaccines and therapies in public health emergencies “. Other themes are to increase trust in science, the issue of governance and planetary health that has an integrated look at human, animal and environmental health.

Scientists say goodbye to leaders with a warning. “The pandemic is not going to end anywhere, until it is over everywhere.” And they conclude by asking for “a healthier, safer and fairer world“. This is also requested by many activists who in these days are trying to get their voice to the powerful of the world: for example, the Italians of the global One movement ask Prime Minister Mario Draghi to “share excess doses of Covid vaccines” to “get out of the pandemic together “and Italy’s commitment to an” international plan for vaccination equity “.

See also  Gozzoli murder, a suspect arrested in Romania. There would also be an accomplice

But also prominent personalities take the field. For example, the president of Lazio Nicola Zingaretti joins the voices of hundreds of experts, artists, exponents of the world of politics and business, Nobel laureates, to ask for “legal measures” and declare vaccines “global common good”. In a letter reported in the ‘Messenger’ signed by him and by the Nobel Peace Prize winners Muhammad Yunus and José Ramos Horta, he asks to use the opportunity of the Rome summit to study how to improve the ability to face future crises in a spirit of solidarity, overcoming injustices such as the one that has led in the current anti-Covid vaccination campaign the “richest countries to receive more than 87% of vaccines and low-income countries only 0.2%”.

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy