The Crime Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for building a global cooperation structure to prevent the epidemic by presenting five proposals to the international community. He made the call while addressing the 78th UNGA High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPPR) at the UN Headquarters Conference Room on Wednesday (September 20).
The Prime Minister said that the COVID-19 pandemic has appeared as a turning point for all of us. We have lost many around the world. We understand that nature has its own limits for human intervention. We also experienced unprecedented global solidarity. We recognize that none of us is safe until all are safe. We must learn our collective lessons by building on good practices and avoiding the mistakes of the past. Equality and solidarity must form the backbone of our endeavors. The Prime Minister has highlighted five priorities to prevent the epidemic.
Three of the five priorities are: concessional international financing to strengthen health systems in developing countries; mobilizing resources and expertise for epidemic surveillance, prevention, preparedness, and science-based response; and ensuring equitable and open access to quality, affordable, and effective pandemic products, including vaccines, for all. The remaining two priorities are: diversification of production of pandemic products through the availability of technology and practical knowledge; and developing an international collaborative framework for availability and benefit sharing among relevant parties under the leadership of WHO.
Prime Minister said that, to this end, we hope to see fair and concrete results from an epidemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005). Bangladesh will be constructively involved in both processes. Addressing the meeting in the presence of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) thematic ambassador Saima Wazed, the Prime Minister pointed out that ‘Bangladesh was not immune to the impact of COVID-19’, yet we ranked fifth in a global index of recovery from COVID-19. From the beginning, we had to strike a balance between saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
Referring to the early adoption of a national preparedness and contingency plan with the help of WHO, he said, “We ensure free supply of medicines and PPE to the poor.” More than double the number of ICU beds. Laboratories are set up at zero to 885 centers. Oxygen supply is ensured in almost all hospitals. He said that within a few months, about 11 thousand doctors and 13 thousand medical support staff were appointed. Our frontline workers have done a wonderful job keeping the mortality rate at 1.46 percent. A dedicated digital app has been launched to administer the vaccine completely free of charge.
We covered 93 percent of the vaccine with at least the second dose. I call for treating pandemic vaccines as global public goods.
Stating that his government has launched an incentive package worth USD 26.9 billion, the Prime Minister said, “We have provided direct food assistance to more than four crore low-income people.” Along with other friendly countries, Bangladesh has also extended its helping hand to migrant workers stationed abroad.
