The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disclosed that it will make available and accessible COVID-19 vaccine to all countries once a proven vaccine is available.
The Punch reported that Director-General, WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, made this known during a live virtual session of the 70th WHO Regional Committee for Africa.
He said the organisation had been working round the clock since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, noting that African countries now have a preparedness and response plan in place.
“Our continent is facing a health crisis unlike any we have faced before. Yesterday, we crossed 1 million reported cases in the region, with more than 20,000 deaths. The number of cases has doubled just in the past 6 weeks.”
“Everyone has a role to play from cleaning hands to maintaining physical distance, staying at home and wearing of masks where physical distancing is not possible,” Ghebreyesus said.
The WHO DG called on countries to put measures in place for surveillance, testing, and contact tracing while focusing on the most vulnerable groups.
He added that countries have experienced significant outbreaks linked to events with a large number of people including stadiums, night clubs, churches, adding that precautions must be taken at these places to minimise transmission.
