The statement was made by World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, when making an account of Covid-19, since it was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus contagions were declared a public healthcare emergency of international concern as early as January 30, 2020.

At that time, fewer than 100 cases and no deaths had been reported outside China.

Three years later, there are almost seven million deaths, but we know that the true number of deaths is much higher,’ Tedros noted.

However, he said, the world is in a much better position now than at any time during the pandemic.

The WHO chief stressed the need to learn from the lessons learned from the pandemic because, otherwise, the cycle of panic and neglect that has been the hallmark of the global response to epidemics and pandemics for decades will be repeated.

He pointed out that living in a safer world requires public health care, strong healthcare systems, ongoing tracking, and strong primary care.

On Monday, the Pan American Health Organization discussed a preliminary draft of a new convention, agreement or other international healthcare instrument on pandemic prevention, preparation and response.

Authorities from the ministries of health and international relations of the Americas received the latest update on the deliberations of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body created to draft and negotiate the instrument, which will be submitted for approval by WHO member States in 2024.

The document could complement other initiatives, actions and measures to make the world safer from pandemics, in particular the 2005 International Healthcare Regulations (IHR).

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