Coronavirus (Covid-19)

More pandemics to come if we don’t prepare for the future – WHO Chief

Published

6 months ago

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Thaiger

PHOTO: WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Today marks the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, and to some, such a day recognising the importance of thinking ahead, is long overdue. The WHO chief is warning that if preparations aren’t made for the future, more pandemics that rival Covid-19 will follow.

Exactly 12 months today a number of mysterious respiratory cases presented at a hospital in Wuhan. Read more HERE.

The WHO’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says any attempts to improve human health are “doomed” without tackling climate change and animal welfare. He also condemned the “dangerously short-sighted” cycle of throwing cash at outbreaks but doing nothing to prepare for the next one.

“For too long, the world has operated on a cycle of panic and neglect”.

“We throw money at an outbreak, and when it’s over, we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one. This is dangerously short-sighted, and frankly difficult to understand.”

Tedros’ thoughts on the matter are only supported with data that was published before Covid-19 hit. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board’s September 2019 first annual report on world readiness for health emergencies revealed that the planet was dangerously unprepared for potentially devastating pandemics.

“History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life.”

And, with Covid-19 serving as the predecessor for any other pandemics on a global scale, he says it has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals, and the planet. A link that has undoubtedly been overlooked for too long.

“Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that’s making our earth less habitable.”

Covid-19 has taken the lives of more than 1.75 million people with nearly 80 million cases on record since the outbreak first emerged in China 1 year ago.

Thailand saw the first cases of the novel coronavirus outside of China, and has largely kept the virus at bay ever since. However, in a turn of events just in time for the new year, the virus officially returned to the kingdom, sparking a second wave of infections that have dashed hopes of recovering the economy through tourism initiatives.

More than 1,200 mostly Burmese migrant workers have now been infected, centred around the Samut Sakhon seafood markets. The latest cluster has now spread to 31 other Thai provinces. 1,443 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 infection since the latest outbreak was detected 8 days ago.

Meanwhile, Tedros confirms that such a pandemic is more far-reaching than anyone could have guessed. From societal and economic consequences to issues becoming spotlighted that were not taken seriously before. As Thailand’s second wave has honed in on the illegal border crossings of migrant workers, it has also highlighted those in authoritative positions that are allowing such behaviours to continue.

But Thailand isn’t unique in its issues being thrust into the spotlight, as other nations are dealing with the same effects of the pandemic. Tedros, however, makes it clear that all countries should invest in “preparedness capacities” to prevent and detect such emergencies, while supporting “stronger primary health care provisions.”

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was set by the UN General Assembly to promote the importance of nations working together to tackle epidemics.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Want more Thailand news from the Thaiger family?

📱 Download our app on Android or iOS for instant updates on your mobile
📝️ Join the conversation on Thaiger Talk - discuss news & life in our Thailand forums
📧 Subscribe to our daily email newsletter
👍 Like/Follow us on Facebook
🔔 Subscribe to or Join our YouTube channel for daily video updates

News Categories: Coronavirus (Covid-19) Thailand

Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.

Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.

Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

Create an Account

16 Comments

Fred glue

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 11:51 am

If WHO” done there job in the first place we would not be in this mess, what do they get paid for.
Get another different professional organisation.

Reply
- Slugger
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:01 pm
  
  Get another US president more like it.
  
  Reply
  - preesy chepuce
    
    Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 3:57 pm
    
    Get another Chinese government to replace the CCP, more like it.
    
    Reply
  - Dssk
    
    Monday, December 28, 2020 at 1:37 pm
    
    Get anothe rothschild and Rockefeller or wipe out all
    What a damn people!
    
    Reply
Tom

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 12:06 pm

What does climate change or animal welfare have anything to do with pandemics. Control of people and nations is the goal of those behind this organization. I’ve read this tie to climate change and pandemics in other articles, control in a new wrapper is all it is.

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 3:59 pm
  
  Diseases come from animals, animals mix with humans in Chinese wet markets, as human population expands into areas where animals live, and human waste pours out into the environment, and human factories in large industrial developing countries with poor regulatory enforcement, guess who?
  
  Reply
Jon

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 12:10 pm

This isn’t a prediction, but a promise.

Reply
John

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 1:46 pm

This is highly worrying – Tedros is a Deep State muppet who ran cover for their program in Africa. The concern here is that with very deadly bio-weapons in the arsenal, the question should be asked – was COVID just the warm up?

Denver Airport “Art Murals” anyone??

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:01 pm
  
  I blame the Martians, that Jim Henson was one of their secret operatives. Most of the world is just a hologram anyway.
  
  Reply
  - John
    
    Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 5:19 pm
    
    Keep up the snidey rhetoric and lets hope it never happens – if it does people like yourself will unfortunately be the most in denial and the least prepared.
    
    Reply
Ipaddressfunnycolors

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 1:46 pm

well on the conspiracy forums, agenda 21 suggests the goal is to depopulate the planet to 500m people by 2030. The only way would be achieved is with bio weapons.

Many would say I’m just crazy. And maybe I am. Lol.

But, I don’t put it past those in power, who want to hold onto the power, to deliberately do something like this.

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:03 pm
  
  Well that will certainly get house prices down in Croydon.
  
  Reply
Brian

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:11 pm

The other day I accused The Thaiger of “pushing propaganda”, and I was told by staff that it was an insulting suggestion. Today, we see this article, which seems to be a paraphrased version of an article that appeared in the Bangkok Post. It looks like someone at The Thaiger read the Bangkok Post article and paraphrased it. Is that accurate?

If we search the web for the phrase “Tedros said all countries should invest in preparedness capacities to prevent, detect and mitigate emergencies of all kinds”, we can find hundreds of news web sites publishing the same thing. Bangkok Post was just republishing some story handed to them by AFP.

Needless to say, as pointed out by other commenters, the propaganda is steadily pushing a supposed link between the overblown virus and the supposed climate catastrophe that is nowhere to be seen, which is exactly what you would expect, since both fake media stories are pushed by the same people with the same goals in mind.

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:02 pm
  
  Everyone has the right to be insulted – some have more rights than others… especially in the pretend media. 😀
  
  Reply
- indisPC
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:07 pm
  
  You disagreed with the staff? I’m surprised they didn’t ban your email like they did me.
  
  What’s hilarious is how they like this “ipaddressfunnycolors” guy run amok with conspiracy theories on every article, but disputing their articles with logical arguments and evidence results in censorship.
  
  Install adblock today and together we can rid this world of the news media.
  
  Reply
Toby Andrews

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 10:43 pm

This WHO chief is paid $250.000 a year, and probably all his expenses tax free, and THIS is all he can announce! The donors are being short changed.
claptrap to demonstrate he is working, no more.

Reply