By Kudakwashe Pembere
With just about a fortnight to conclude the discussions of the Pandemic Agreement to help World Health Organization (WHO) member states in strengthening their healthcare systems, the AIDS HealthCare Foundaiton (AHF) is of the notion there are several issues that need to be ironed out.
Learning from the disparities which obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic where vaccines were unevenly distributed across the globe, the AHF fears a dejavu should the Pandemic Agreement turn the blind eye to that.
The second issue is the issue of the current text. The latest version of the agreement is filled with empty promises and lacks the power needed to make sure everyone has fair access to health, health resources during pandemic. If you already heard about equity, definition of equity, by definition means equal distribution of resources among the people in considering their needs.
“This is not what is happening, and this is not what has happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of access to vaccines. Most developing countries struggle to get vaccines, while developed countries hoarded vaccines more than what they needed. So we need to talk more of equity in the future pandemics,” said AHF Zimbabwe country program manager Dr Enerst Chikwati in a press conference on Friday.
The Pandemic Agreement is an initiative by the World Health Organization through its Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Yet Dr Chikwati said there should be an independent body to oversee this Agreement.
“There’s also need, the fifth point is need for accountability and enforcement. We need strong rules to make sure countries follow the agreement. We need commitment from heads of state and also for the heads of state also to be involved in the signing of this agreement. That will ensure accountability that will ensure in country there’s commitment for each country. |
“Then the sixth one is call for independent oversight. Dr. Bote, during the presentation, said there is no body, an independent body, which is independent from WHO. We urge WHO to consider appointing an independent body, independent from WHO, independent from donors of WHO, to head and oversee the pandemic agreement.
“We also urge WHO to reconsider the CSO, the civil organizations to be more involved. Their voice needs to be heard. They need to hear them. Yes, they are finalizing, but let them get input from the civic society.
“Then eighth, AHF is therefore mobilizing support across the board to roll out action to pressure the intergovernmental negotiating body to revisit the agreement and address the critical gaps that I’ve highlighted,” he said.
Dr Sandra Bote, AHF Zimbabwe Medical Director explaining this Agreement said it was important for it to address the issue of equitable health.
“What’s actually important for us all to have equitable health, whether we are in Zimbabwe or we are in America. In the midst of all of that, pandemic prevention prepares us to support this critical at all levels, especially in developing countries.
“And that’s developing countries, they actually require sustainable and sufficient financial assistance. They require human, logistical, technical resources for them to be at a level where they can actually compare themselves to the developed world and be able to address some of these global health threats,” she said.
