New Delhi, 23 January (IANS). Sarum Institute of India (SII) chief Adar Poonawala said on Thursday that the role of the World Health Organization is important to maintain global health systems smoothly. It is noteworthy that the US has recently separated itself from this organization.
In an interview to the media in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Poonawala said that WHO plays an important role in maintaining global standards on drugs and vaccines. In addition, the organization also contributes to testing, research and surveillance.
Poonawala said, “WHO maintains global standards for drugs and vaccines and is required to maintain global health systems, testing, research and monitoring.”
His remarks have come at a time when the administration led by the new US President Donald Trump has stopped funding the WHO. Soon after taking oath for his second term, Trump signed an order to separate the US from WHO. It said that the WHO did not properly handle Kovid epidemic and received huge funds from America than big countries like China.
The US has long been the largest contributor to the WHO mission, which contributed $ 1.28 billion in 2022 and 2023. After this, the most contributed to Germany was $ 400 million.
Poonawala appealed to other countries to come forward to fund WHO, so that the agency would not face lack of funds due to the withdrawal of the US.
“We are calling on leaders and others here to come forward to bridge that difference, there are many countries that can do this and there is no huge amount for those countries that contribute to it. Can. ” He also told how SII is dealing with the challenge of malaria by providing vaccines especially in poor countries.
The CEO said that SII is trying to reduce malaria in Africa’s countries by providing vaccines “, as well as called for cooperation between governments and private institutions to develop affordable solutions for various other diseases.
He said, “With our ability and partnership, our goal is to ensure that every person needed by these vaccines can get these vaccines.”
Poonawala said that despite all efforts globally, malaria remains a serious global health threat, especially in the African region.
In 2023, an estimated 263 million cases of malaria were reported worldwide and 597,000 people died. About 11 million cases occurred in 2023 compared to 2022 and the deaths occurred almost the same.
Poonawala said that SII is sending R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to African countries, which has 77 percent efficacy.
-IANS
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