PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali has called for a multi-sectoral approach to pandemic preparedness, stressing that responsibility for preventing and managing future health emergencies cannot rest solely with health ministries.
The Guyanese Head of State made the call on Tuesday during a high-level dialogue on making pandemic prevention, preparedness and response a sustained economic, development and security priority, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The President said preparedness must begin before an emergency occurs, with countries investing in laboratories, hospitals and trained personnel to strengthen their capacity,
“We cannot prevent every outbreak, but we can prevent an outbreak from becoming a catastrophe,” Dr Ali said.
He also urged governments to strengthen collaboration through technology and scientific capabilities, while building cross-border capacity, pooling investments and increasing the local and regional manufacture of life-saving medicines.
The dialogue was held under the theme, “Two Regions, One Future: Financing Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Build Global Health Security”.