WHO launches COVID-19 Tools (Act) Accelerator

The World Health Organization along with the other international leading organizations such as Global Fund, UNTAID, CEPI, etc. has launched the COVID-19 Tools (Act) Accelerator. The collaboration helps to speed up the development, production and access to therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines of COVID-19.

Highlights

The main of the collaboration is to make COVID-19 treatment available to both rich and poor. The initiative has been launched based on the experience that during H1N1 Swine Flu in 2009, the distribution of vaccines was not equitable. This was because only the rich countries were able to purchase them.

During the launch, world leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron were all present. However, the United States stayed away from the launch.

US and WHO

The United States recently announced that it will stop its funding to WHO. The US backed off accusing the organization being China-centric. China on the other hand, donated 20 million USD in March and has now made an additional donation of 30 million USD.

Funding to the United Nations

The United Nations is funded in two ways, one through mandatory payment and voluntary contribution. The United Nations provided 22% of the general budget of the organization and 28% of peacekeeping budget.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2020