International Day of Epidemic preparedness 2023; December 27th.

FORUM: "Enhance collaboration, cooperation, and equity in responding to pandemics of the future." International Day of Epidemic Preparedness 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of lives, caused millions of deaths and inflicted devastating impacts on humanity. After three years of unprecedented global efforts, on 5 May the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing however, that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #EpidemicPreparedness, #27December, #InternationalDayofEpidemicPreparedness.

EVENTS: On December 27th, the World Health Assembly (WHA) and World Health Organization (WHO) will hold a webinar to mark the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness 2023. The Secretary-General said these efforts are making progress and recalled that the High-level meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, held in September, concluded with a robust political declaration which complements negotiations underway towards a pandemic accord. The pandemic accord will help to create a safer and healthier world with a universal system of response to disease eruptions, he added.

STATEMENTS: "This first-ever global agreement aims to enhance collaboration, cooperation, and equity in responding to pandemics of the future " said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his end-of-year message.

Statement from the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the International Day of Epidemic preparedness 2023; December 27th. 

COVID-19 is no longer the international public health emergency it was, but it is still circulating, and its devastating effects are still with us. Economic damage inflicted by the pandemic endures. Many healthcare systems are struggling. Millions of children are threatened by disease after missing out on routine childhood vaccinations. And three years after the first COVID-19 vaccines were developed, billions of people remain unprotected – overwhelmingly in developing countries.

When the next pandemic arrives, we must do better. But we’re not yet ready. We must prepare and act on the lessons of COVID-19.

Working together, the world must improve surveillance of viruses, strengthen health systems, and make the promise of Universal Health Coverage a reality. We must renounce the moral and medical disaster of rich countries hoarding and controlling pandemic healthcare supplies, and ensure everyone has access to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. And we must strengthen the World Health Organization’s authority and financing.

These efforts are making progress. The High-level meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in September agreed a robust political declaration. This complements the negotiations on a pandemic accord in Geneva.

On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, I urge countries to build on this momentum by delivering a strong, comprehensive accord, focused on equity, by next year’s World Health Assembly in May.

Together, let’s act on the lessons of COVID-19, prepare, and build a fairer, healthier world for all.

United Nations Secretary-General.