Esteemed colleagues and guests,
It is an honour to join you today.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an event such as we have not seen in a century.
It is affecting every country and every sector.
Currently, cases and deaths are increasing in the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.
One of the few encouraging trends is in Africa, which has been less affected than other regions and is now the only region where cases are not increasing.
The current downward trend is cause for optimism.
However, in the last few weeks we have been seeing worrisome increases in cases and deaths in some countries.
Just as with the rest of the world, Africa must remain vigilant with this virus.
Like a forest fire, a small spark can set off a raging blaze.
Africa's long experience responding to infectious diseases means that a number of countries already have the expertise, laboratory infrastructure, and networks of community health workers that are critical for containing COVID-19.
Testing is critical. Many African countries have increased testing, but there are still problems with access to testing kits.
WHO is working with partners to fill those gaps.
Over the past few months, we have shipped millions of test kits and tons of protective equipment to many countries in Africa and trained thousands of health workers.
We will soon be able to make 120 million new rapid tests available to low- and middle-income countries.
While we maintain the momentum fighting COVID-19, we cannot ignore large-scale inequalities that are putting lives and livelihoods at risk.
The pandemic has many impacts beyond the disease itself, disrupting essential health services, such as those for maternal and child health, and chronic conditions like hypertension.
Critical immunization programmes have also been suspended, putting tens of millions of children at risk.
We must also be conscious that heavy-handed responses can cause unintentional harm.
Prolonged lockdowns can badly disrupt lives and livelihoods for already vulnerable populations, including exacerbating hunger.
Responding to the pandemic is not a job for the health sector alone. It requires engagement across government and society.
The impact of this novel virus has gone far beyond the health sector, causing economic, political and societal disruption.
The International Monetary Fund predicts that the economy in sub-Saharan Africa will contract by 3.2% this year – the worst on record.
We know that many businesses have been profoundly affected.
I join the call to the international community and international financial institutions to consider measures such as debt relief or restructuring to enable poorer countries to ease the adjustment of their public finances so that health and other social spending can be sustained.
It is especially important that the private sector, which provides more than 30% of health care in Africa, play a leading role both in responding to the pandemic and in the recovery.
Private sector engagement in the COVID-19 response in the region so far has ranged from renovating isolation centres in The Gambia to providing financial contributions to the African Strategic Response Plan.
Personally, I have been impressed by the way many African nations and entrepreneurs have redirected industrial capacity to produce personal protective equipment and other commodities such as ventilators.
Local production is not only a way to ensure a more reliable supply of life-saving products. It also contributes to economic development.
Equally important is creating a sound and conducive regulatory environment.
Region-wide initiatives, such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and African Medicines Agency treaty, along with a strong African Union, are critical to success on the road ahead.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, WHO has worked closely with the Africa CDC and we will continue to do so.
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COVID-19 is only one threat that the people of Africa – and the people of the world – face on a daily basis.
Although our efforts are rightly focused on responding to this crisis, we must also learn the lesson it is teaching us: that health is not a luxury item, or a reward for development.
Strong health systems and health security are two sides of the same coin.
When people have access to quality, affordable prevention and treatment services, businesses and economies can flourish.
Universal health coverage, based on primary health care, is the foundation of health security, stability and sustainability.
Achieving universal health coverage requires investments in health systems, especially in strong primary health care, with an emphasis on promoting health and preventing disease.
Ultimately, strong, resilient health systems are the best defence against every health emergency, from the personal crisis of a stroke to a global pandemic.
Health is a right for all people, not a privilege for those who can afford it.
This is at the heart of WHO’s work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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Dear colleagues and friends,
Let me leave you with a few requests.
As Desmond Tutu said, “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” We need more than science to confront the pandemic. We need national unity and global solidarity.
So first, find a way to contribute to ending this pandemic.
We ask those of you with local production capacity for vaccines and therapeutics to be ready to rapidly scale up production to ensure access – or if your business is outside this domain, you can invest in it.
You can also support the response with in-kind contributions, and financially, through the Solidarity Response Fund and the WHO Foundation.
Second, use your influence.
Business leaders are thought leaders – they can accomplish a great deal by staying informed and speaking clearly about the measures that business, government and communities can take to prevent the spread of the disease.
Finally, set an example.
Invest in workplace safety measures for your workers and workplace. Work with members of the business community to put in place preparedness measures and plans for business continuity.
Saving lives and protecting livelihoods are complementary goals.
That means investing in health and in innovation, growing the knowledge economy and building on the potential of Africa’s young workforce through skills building.
My friends, your partnership is essential, not only for defeating this pandemic, but for building the healthier, safer and fairer world we all want.
I thank you.