by Xinhua writer He Fei
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO), along with some private sector partners and other global health groups, launched an initiative on Friday to speed up the development of COVID-19 health technologies, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
The landmark initiative marks a strong collective commitment to a coordinated response so as to beat the pandemic by ratcheting up international scientific and technological cooperation.
The WHO's call to step up joint actions to develop technological tools is a timely move in the right direction. The pandemic has so far infected over 2.8 million people and killed more than 197,000, data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University showed.
As the virus continues to wreak havoc worldwide, an effective toolkit to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease is key to saving more lives. Vaccines, among others, are the ultimate weapon.
Prevailing over the virus at an early date requires an unprecedented partnership that involves as many stakeholders as possible. On developing vaccines in particular, governments, international institutions and private sectors should pool their talents, scientific findings and financial power, rather than fighting on their own.
Soon after the epidemic broke out, the WHO has been working with thousands of scientists, funders and manufacturers worldwide on research, and developed diagnostics now being used across the world. The agency has also been coordinating a global trial on four therapeutics.
In coordinating global endeavors, the UN health body has also stressed the importance of support for the vulnerable and the less developed. All global partners should heed the call of the WHO and make sure that vaccines and effective treatments are available to all, regardless of age, race, gender or wealth.
Working in an objective, fair and science-based manner, the WHO proves itself an indispensable and irreplaceable backbone in maintaining global public health. The international community should continue to support the WHO's leading role in coordinating global actions.
However, Washington has recently been escalating attacks against the WHO, halting funding to the organization and suggesting forming an alternative body in a bid to pass the buck for its own missteps in responding to the pandemic. However, this will only hamper the world's efforts, including America's own, to overcome the pandemic.
COVID-19 is a threat to people everywhere, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has put it. As long as the human race can stick together, and step up cooperation, notably in science and technology, it will ultimately defeat this common enemy and emerge as wiser and stronger. Enditem
