Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


WHO Chief Urges Investment, Preparation for Next Pandemic

Margaret Besheer

   NEW YORK - The head of the World Health Organization said Friday that
   with a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, nations must start investing
   and preparing for the next pandemic.

   "Despite years of warnings, many countries were simply not ready for
   COVID-19," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a
   special session of the U.N. General Assembly on the coronavirus. "Many
   mistakenly assumed their strong health systems would protect them."

   He said countries that have dealt with recent coronaviruses, including
   Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory
   Syndrome (MERS) as well as other infectious diseases, have done better
   in containing COVID-19.

   "Now all countries must develop that same muscle memory and invest in
   the measures that will prevent, control and mitigate the next crisis,"
   Tedros said. "It is also clear the global system for preparedness needs
   attention."

.