Bangladesh seeks vaccines for developing countries under COVAX

Bangladesh has urged the World Health Organisation (WHO), GAVI-the Vaccine Alliance, CEPI and the UNICEF to play a visible and effective role to ensure the supply of the coronavirus vaccines under the COVAX facility to the developing countries, particularly the low and the middle-income countries, urgently.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva Md. Mustafizur Rahman made the call at the 148th Executive Board Meeting of the WHO held in Geneva on Wednesday.

The PR said the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the limitations of the global public health system.

He emphasized on the robust international partnership to strengthen the health systems of the low and the middle-income countries in the post-pandemic period.

Ambassador Rahman thanked the WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for nominating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to be one of the Co-Chairs of the Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) Group of the One Health Global Leaders.

The Director General of WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeseus specially thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her leadership to the AMR Group during his address in the meeting, said the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva on Thursday.

Besides, Dr. Tedros had sent a letter to Prime Minister of Bangladesh appreciating her for her timely and dynamic leadership to combat the challenges posed by the Corona pandemic.

He also reiterated the commitment of WHO to work with the Government of Bangladesh in addressing any challenge in the area of public health.

During the Executive Board Meeting, 50 health related issues were discussed in detail while 5 resolutions and 13 decisions were adopted.

Bangladesh co-sponsored the resolutions on mental health and oral health. Also, Bangladesh delivered a joint statement on behalf of the South East Asian countries on the resolution on mental health.

The 148th Executive Board Meeting was held virtually in the headquarters of the WHO in Geneva. As an elected member of the Executive Board, Bangladesh actively took part under the leadership of Health Minister Zahid Maleque and made significant contributions to the discussions almost on all issues.