WHO member states make decision on preventing pandemic

Following the decision of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the top decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Second Special Session of the WHA was held in virtual format from November 29 to December 1.

The Health Ministry of Azerbaijan told Report that member states discussed the development of a convention, agreement, or other international WHO instrument for pandemic readiness and response. Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Health, Acting Minister of Health Teymur Musayev.

During his speech, Musayev recalled that on November 18, within the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, a resolution "Ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines" on behalf of the members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was adopted by the UN member states at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"We welcome the efforts of the Member States' Working Group to improve the WHO's readiness and response to public health emergencies and to support the expansion of activities in this area," Musayev said.

According to the results of the Second Special Session, WHO member states decided to create an international document for more effective prevention and control of pandemics.