The WHO on Tuesday urged world leaders attending the UNGA’s 76th session to promote equal access to COVID-19 vaccines and other life-saving technology.

This would strengthen global pandemic preparedness and restart efforts to meet the SDGs (SDGs).

The UN agency added that, nearly 5 million people have died as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which is still spreading across the globe.

Vaccines are the most important instrument for ending the pandemic and saving lives and property.

Globally, more than 5.7 billion vaccination doses have been provided, although only ten nations account for 73% of all doses.

In comparison to low-income countries, high-income countries have given out 61 times more dosages per person.

The longer vaccination inequities exists, the more the virus will circulate and evolve, and the greater the social and economic upheaval.

By the end of this year, WHO hopes to have vaccinated at least 40% of each country’s population, and 70% by the middle of next year.

If countries and producers show a genuine commitment to vaccine fairness, these goals can be achieved.

WHO is urging countries to fulfill their dose-sharing commitments as soon as possible, and to swap their near-term vaccine deliveries with COVAX and AVAT (African COVID-19 Vaccine Acquisition Task Team). WHO is also urging manufacturers to prioritize supplies to COVAX and partners, as well as for countries and manufacturers to facilitate the sharing of technology, know-how, and intellectual property to support a rapid response.

While governments work to end this pandemic, the rest of the globe must prepare for future pandemics and other health emergencies.

COVID-19 caught the globe – especially wealthy countries – off guard with such a rapid and large-scale outbreak.

It disproportionately impacted vulnerable people, exacerbating inequities.

WHO advises all countries to break the cycle of “panic and neglect” that has occurred in the aftermath of prior health crises by allocating enough financial resources and political commitment to improving global health disaster preparedness.

UHC is a cornerstone of global health security.

Despite recent advances in UHC, 90 percent of countries have experienced disruptions in key health services as a result of the pandemic, with ramifications far beyond the health sector.

Not only is serious investment in universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness required to strengthen global health security, but it is also necessary to re-establish the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The pandemic has halted progress toward the SDGs, including improvements in poverty eradication, gender equality, communicable disease vaccination, and girls’ and boys’ education.

But technology is also giving the world new possibilities to do things differently and actually work on making the world a better place — toward a healthier, fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable world.

WHO is urging world leaders to grasp the moment and commit to concerted action, enough resources, and solidarity in order to build a brighter future for people and the planet at the UNGA this week.

The Federal Government stated that dishonest people are trying to get COVID-19 immunization cards without receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

Possession of vaccination cards without obtaining immunizations is illegal and punishable by law.

Mr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), raised the alarm on COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout on Tuesday in Abuja.

The NPHCDA and the Presidential Steering Committee strongly condemn these fraudulent attempts and encourage those involved to cease and desist.

According to him, “With the increase in COVID-19 vaccination mandates globally, it has come to the notice of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Federal Ministry of Health, that attempts are being made by unscrupulous persons to procure the COVID-19 vaccination cards, without receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. 

“The ongoing COVID-19 vaccination and the vaccination cards are totally free of charge at all designated COVID-19 vaccination sites across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.

“The NPHCDA is collaborating with the State Security Services (SSS), ICPC and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute any persons and their accomplices attempting to fraudulently acquire COVID-19 vaccination cards without getting vaccinated. Our colleague from the FCT team, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Development Board is here to provide detailed update on the case of criminal attempt to illegally procure vaccination card that is being investigated. The individual in this case is not a staff of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency but a staff of the FCT State Primary Healthcare Development Board. The NPHCDA enjoins the general public to immediately report any suspected cases of buying and selling of COVID-19 vaccination cards without receiving the vaccines to the nearest law enforcement agency or to NPHCDA through the following channels:
COVID-19 hotline: 07002201122
NPHCDA website: www.nphcda.gov.ng/complaints“, he explained.

Meanwhile, the Country Representative World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo said, it is important to remember that the variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus present in Nigeria are dangerous, and the tools we have to protect ourselves continue to be effective against them. 

He urged all countries to recall and respect the principles of the International Health Regulations (IHR) that vaccines must be approved by WHO and be of suitable quality and universally available before they can be considered as a prerequisite for travel.

Saying, If someone is fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines with WHO Emergency Use Listing, they should be treated in the same way, regardless of which vaccine they received. WHO recommends that the same rules should apply for all individuals who have had an EUL vaccine, with no difference in restrictions depending on the product.

 
According to him; “The Emergency Committee of WHO under the International Health Regulations has been clear that WHO should not be recommending a requirement for vaccination as a condition of travel and particularly related to the scarcity of vaccines and the fact there’s such an inequity in distribution and uncertainties regarding the extent to which vaccination prevents infection or transmission of the disease”.

The issue of international travel is both a certification and a policy issue. WHO is working with countries who have requested that the international yellow fever, or international yellow card be potentially used as a way to register vaccination and we are supporting countries in that.”

The difficulty in this regard is that right now any imposition of such a requirement for vaccination around the world does in effect deliver a double inequality, as individuals from country who have no access to vaccine will then have no access to travel and therefore it is very important that if we’re going to impose restrictions on the travel of individuals, we must at least attempt to do that from a level playing field of having access to vaccine.”

The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization met with the CEOs of leading vaccine manufacturing companies to discuss strategies to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries and Africa.

The Task Force expressed concern that unless fast action is taken, the world will fall short of the target of vaccinating at least 40% of the population in all countries by the end of 2021, a critical deadline for ending the pandemic and resuming global economic recovery.

Despite ample global vaccine production, Task Force members pointed out that vaccine doses are not reaching low- and lower middle-income countries in sufficient amounts, resulting in vaccine inequity.

The Task Force asked countries that have acquired substantial quantities of vaccine doses, as well as vaccine manufacturers, to work cooperatively to expedite COVID-19 vaccine delivery to COVAX and AVAT, two multilateral mechanisms that are crucial for equitable vaccine distribution.

Members of the Task Force applauded the CEOs’ willingness to collaborate with them to eliminate vaccine disparity, as well as their openness to form a technical working group with the Task Force to exchange and coordinate information on vaccine production and delivery.

The Task Force stressed that if the 40% coverage threshold is to be reached in all countries by the end of 2021, the following actions need to be taken immediately by governments and vaccine manufacturers: Release doses to low- and lower middle-income countries: Task Force members take note that countries with high vaccination rates have collectively pre-purchased over two billion doses in excess of what is required to fully vaccinate their populations.  The Task Force calls again on those countries to urgently: i) swap their near-term delivery schedules with COVAX and AVAT, ii) fulfill their dose donation pledges with unearmarked upfront deliveries to COVAX, and iii) release vaccine companies from options and contracts so those doses can be delivered to people in low- and lower middle-income countries. In addition, vaccine manufacturers should prioritize and fulfill their contracts to COVAX and AVAT.

Transparency on supply of vaccines: To ensure that doses reach countries that need them the most, particularly low- and lower middle-income countries, the Task Force calls on vaccine manufacturers to share details on month-by-month delivery schedules for all vaccine shipments, especially for COVAX and AVAT. In its remarks, WHO emphasized its call for a moratorium on booster doses until the end of 2021, with the exception of the immune-compromised, to help optimize supply to low-income countries.

Eliminate export restrictions, prohibitions: The Task Force calls on all countries to urgently address export restrictions, high tariffs and customs bottlenecks on COVID-19 vaccines and the raw materials and supplies required for the production and timely distribution of vaccines.

Regulatory streamlining and harmonization: The Task Force calls on all regulatory authorities around the world to create regulatory consistency and standardization on the approval of vaccines, and to support the acceptance of the WHO Emergency Use Listing procedure. In parallel, efforts should be made to boost production of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments globally and expedite equitable delivery of such lifesaving tools to developing countries. 

In order to improve maternal and neonatal safety at the time of service especially during birth, the World Health Organization (WHO) is inviting health care providers, leaders and health workers all across the world to embrace a serial of five World Patient Safety Day goals for 2021.

The goals will be launched on 17 September on World Patient Safety Day on the topic of this year’s Virtual Global Conference “Together for safe and respectful maternity and neonatal care.”

WHO Country Representative, Walter Kazadi Mulombo said every day, over 800 mothers and 6700 babies die as a result of complications during childbirth.

Furthermore, nearly 5 400 babies are stillborn every day, with 40% of these deaths related to labour and childbirth.

The majority of stillbirths, maternal and infant fatalities, and harm can be avoided if safe, respectful, and high-quality care is provided during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early days of life.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, saying, “The 5 World Patient Safety Day Goals 2021 aim to improve maternal and newborn safety at the point of care and to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of reducing maternal mortality and ending avoidable deaths of newborns by 2030.

“The goals are to: Reduce unnecessary and harmful practices to women and newborns during childbirth; Strengthen capacity of and support to health workers for safe maternal and newborn care; Promote respectful care for safe childbirth; Improve safe use of medication and blood transfusion during childbirth; and Report and analyze safety incidents in childbirth”.

WHO is urging  health care facility leaders, managers and health workers to sign up to these goals on an online platform recently created by WHO.

World Patient Safety Day 2021

World Patient Safety Day, established by the World Health Assembly in 2019, aims to increase public awareness and engagement, enhance global understanding, and work towards global solidarity and action by countries and partners to promote safety in health care.

According to him, “This year’s theme highlights the need to prevent the  harm to women and babies that occurs due to unsafe maternal and newborn care during pregnancy, delivery and the first few days of life – a burden that has been compounded by the disruption of health services due to COVID-19.

“Unsafe care includes issues such as delayed and incorrect diagnosis; patient misidentification; medication errors; anesthesia and surgical errors; unsafe transfusion and injection practices; lack of infection control practices; unnecessary interventions and mistreatment.  

“Despite the progress made in reducing maternal and newborn mortality and illness since 1990, the world is far from achieving the targets laid out in the SDGs. The SDGs 2015-2030 prioritize maternal mortality reduction, with a global average maternal mortality target of less than 70 per 100,000 live births and a supplementary national target that no country should have an MMR greater than 140 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

“A major reason for not achieving this target is a failure to address unsafe and poor-quality care”.

He continued, “Ensuring patient safety is fundamental to strengthening quality health care systems and achieving universal health coverage. At the same time,  it is crucial to engage pregnant women, partners and  families, and build sufficient and competent health workforces that are supported by adequate resources, safety culture and safe working environments.

“WHO leads and provides global direction on patient safety through the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2021. The plan provides strategic direction for all stakeholders to eliminate avoidable harm in health care including in maternal and newborn care.

“A network for improving quality of care for maternal, newborn and child health was established by WHO with a number of governments, implementation partners and funding agencies working together to ensure that every pregnant woman, newborn and child receives safe and quality care with equity and dignity. 

“World Patient Safety Day 2021 is dedicated to safe maternal and newborn care to reinforce these efforts further. With its slogan ‘Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!’, WHO is calling on stakeholders to establish or accelerate existing efforts related to safe and respectful childbirth”, he stated .