TheCable

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has asked developing countries to avoid politicising the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global agency has approved a number of vaccines for emergency use.

Speaking at the last session of the 2021 International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings on Friday, the WHO boss said politicising the pandemic will do more harm to the world.

He said there is need for increased national unity, noting that it is the foundation for global solidarity.

Ghebreyesus decried that since the pandemic began, both national unity and global solidarity have not measured up to expectations.

“Global solidarity and national unity are important. As you know, if the pandemic is politicised especially at the country level, the crack between the different political divisions could be exploited by the virus and we have seen that in many countries,” he said.

“So, the first thing countries should avoid is the politicisation of this pandemic at the country level. At the same time, there is need for national unity because it is the basis for global solidarity. If there is a consensus at the national level, it will lead to global solidarity at the global level.”

Providing more explanation on the concept of global solidarity amid the coronavirus pandemic, the WHO DG said it involves sharing information about the outbreak or different variants of the virus which will help other countries manage the infection.

He added that solidarity also involves working together in coordinating emergency response.