Antonio Guterres Urges Global Cooperation for Pandemic Prevention

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a global approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response during a high-level meeting on September 25. In a speech delivered by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Guterres argued that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that no country can protect itself in isolation.

Guterres urged governments to close financing gaps to support community-based disease detection and surveillance systems. He advocated for a One Health approach that recognizes the link between human health and the natural environment to stop outbreaks before they spread to humans.

The Secretary-General emphasized the need for equity in access to life-saving tools. He stressed that the pathogen access and benefit-sharing system currently under negotiation is critical to the success of the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement.