Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 17 -
Title: corner disturbed, all the world crisis - an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reported to WHO Zhong Nanshan talk about "pandemic preparedness and response independent group"
Xinhua News Agency reporters Chen Fang, Xu Penghang, Chen Xiyuan
Over 3 million deaths, affecting more than 200 countries and regions, are expected to cause US$10 trillion in losses by the end of 2021... Recently, the World Health Organization’s "Pandemic Preparedness and Response Independent Team" released a report on the global response to the new crown epidemic to evaluate.
After 8 months of cooperation, this report puts forward a number of recommendations for ending the new crown epidemic and preventing possible pandemics in the future, including the establishment of a global health threat council.
How was this report formed?
How should countries work together to make the new crown the last pandemic?
Xinhua News Agency conducted an exclusive interview with Academician Zhong Nanshan, an expert member of the group.
Attention should be paid to the two key prevention links from local outbreaks to global crises
Q: Looking back at the new crown epidemic, what important assessments did the report make?
Answer: In July 2020, the World Health Organization announced the establishment of an independent team to evaluate the global response to the new crown epidemic under the leadership of the organization.
The expert group released an 82-page main report on May 12.
This main report, by collating evidence, points out the gaps and possible solutions for each key link of pandemic prevention and response.
The main report of the expert group emphasized that according to the process of the global outbreak of the new crown epidemic, two key and important prevention links should be paid attention to. One is the development from a local outbreak to a global epidemic, and the other is the development from a global epidemic to a global health and socioeconomic crisis.
In the first stage, it has developed from a local epidemic to a global epidemic. Although China has notified the World Health Organization of the epidemic in an early stage, and adopted strong city closures and mass prevention and control measures in the country, and the WHO issued a statement on January 30 PHEIC (Public Health Emergencies of International Concern) warned, but most countries have adopted a wait-and-see policy of “wait and see” and did not take prompt and effective actions. It was too late to start paying attention until the outbreak actually occurred in the country.
In the second stage, from the global epidemic to the global health and socio-economic crisis, the world lacks a coordinated and powerful response system. The international tension hinders the unified action of multinational cooperation. Some countries have formulated policies that are not based on science, and have not been squarely addressed and resolved. The unfairness that exists in the country and is further aggravated by the epidemic has aggravated the harm to low-income countries, disadvantaged groups and poor families.
8 months of close cooperation with 13 expert members to provide guidance for the future
Q: As a well-known expert in the respiratory field, what do you think of the rare new crown pandemic in the world?
The report was completed by 13 expert members from different countries. How to ensure that there is agreement on empiricality and independence?
Answer: The COVID-19 pandemic is a preventable disaster. This is why the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR) must be established urgently.
As one of the independent experts participating in this group, and all the other 12 expert members, I realize that our mission has never been more important, that is, to provide evidence-based guidance for the future through empirical, independent and comprehensive reviews.
As a respiratory doctor, the SARS epidemic in 2003 has not disappeared from my memory. Today, I have witnessed the death of millions of lives due to the new crown pandemic with deep grief.
The world’s failure to learn from the past and not prepare for the pandemic is deeply frustrating.
The impact of the new crown epidemic is devastating.
We must learn from this crisis and take immediate action at the same time.
The expert group has a clear goal, which is to learn lessons and make recommendations for the future.
Through 8 months of close cooperation, through a large number of video conferences, interviews, systematic reviews and research, although there are sometimes disagreements among our members, we have reached agreement on many issues based on objective facts and thorough discussions.
17,000 medical workers donated their lives and vaccines have not been fairly distributed
Q: In response to the new crown epidemic, how do you view the strategies adopted by various countries to contain the spread?
Human beings are developing vaccines at an unprecedented speed. What challenges do we face in terms of vaccination?
Answer: The following facts are also fully affirmed in the main report:
In the prevention and control of this epidemic, medical staff from various countries have demonstrated their dedication to their duties, and at least 17,000 people have given their lives in the fight against the epidemic;
Some countries have successfully responded to the spread of the new crown epidemic by adopting a strong containment strategy (aggressive containment strategy).
They learn from the history of the epidemic, respect science, pay attention to timely classification and transfer of cases, track close contacts, ensure isolation measures and equipment, transparency and continuity of information, and mobilize the role of primary medical workers to provide adequate social and economic provision. stand by;
Human beings are developing vaccines at an unprecedented speed to benefit the masses in preventing the spread of the new coronavirus.
The establishment of herd immunity through extensive vaccination is an important part of the current epidemic control.
However, the current vaccines have not been fairly distributed. The main report requires that vaccines should become a global public product. The immediate actions that should be taken are: High-income countries should provide COVAX (New Crown Vaccine Implementation Plan) and ACT-A (Access to COVID-19) Tool Acceleration Plan) to contribute to help countries with insufficient resources; require vaccine-producing countries to provide vaccine licenses and technology transfers, so that low- and middle-income countries can have access to vaccines; ensure adequate and fair vaccine supply .
The establishment of the Global Health Threat Council to prevent future pandemics requires cooperation from all countries
Question: The new crown epidemic is still raging in many countries. What new recommendations does the report give to prevent a pandemic that may occur in the future?
A: In addition to taking immediate action, in order to ensure that we can successfully respond to the next pandemic in the future, the expert group has put forward long-term recommendations that should be implemented, including: improving political leadership in pandemic preparedness and response, and improving global financing and investment in epidemic preparedness , Improve monitoring and early warning systems, and establish a tool and supply platform.
I want to particularly emphasize the establishment of the Global Health Threats Council (Global Health Threats Council) recommendations. Only by getting the attention of the highest-level political leaders can we ensure that the “pandemic preparation and response” can be implemented and sustained in the future without being affected. Forget or ignore.
This main report is objective and scientific.
However, to translate the recommendations of the main report into actual actions requires the unified actions of all countries in the world.
At present, the new crown epidemic is still raging in many countries in the world. The virus is the common enemy of mankind. A global and high-level anti-epidemic leadership agency has been established to provide sufficient financial support for epidemic prevention and control and establish a global vaccine equitable distribution plan. Give the WHO a higher authority to act, take action, strive to control the development of the epidemic in a relatively short period of time, and achieve the goal set by the "Pandemic Prevention and Response Independent Group": "Let the new crown become the last pandemic in mankind."
"One corner is uneasy, the whole world is at risk"-unless everyone is safe, no one is safe.