(3 minutes read)
· The UN Security Council has called for an accelerated availability of coronavirus vaccines for Africa
· While doing so, the UN highlighted that the continent had so far only received 2% of the vaccines produced globally
· UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said health care systems should be better supported and should have more effective vaccine access through the global Covax scheme
The UN Security Council has called for an accelerated availability of coronavirus vaccines for Africa. While doing so, the UN highlighted that the continent had so far only received 2% of the vaccines produced globally.
This clarion call to make available more vaccines to Africa is contained in a presidential statement approved by all 15 members at a council meeting which discussed steps for promoting post-pandemic recovery in Africa, which was issued recently.
The statement also stressed that there should be equitable access to quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics, medicines and vaccines. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said health care systems should be better supported and should have more effective vaccine access through the global Covax scheme. He also called for the removal of export restrictions. The UN reiterated hi its appeal to strive for a global ceasefire so that countries could focus on fighting the pandemic.
Guterres said that clashes still continued in countries such as Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UN has recently made efforts to bring peace in the war torn Libya by installing a transitional government, after two warring groups decided to end their fights. However, the North African country is still not out of woods since a large number of foreign mercenaries are present in Libya irrespective of the efforts made by the international community and the UN asking them to leave the country to facilitate free and fair elections in December this year.
