WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL CALLS FOR 'ONE HEALTH' APPROACH

The following is a message from the Director-General of WHO, Dr,. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,  for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction:

From earthquakes and floods to conflicts and disease outbreaks, it is a common reaction to think that nothing can be done to prevent or mitigate disasters.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

There are many actions governments and communities can take to prevent and prepare for these emergencies, to lessen their effects, and to reduce the chance of them happening in the first place.

That’s what the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is about. 

Emergencies do not happen in a vacuum.

They are made worse – and sometimes more likely – by poverty, lack of water and sanitation, climate change, population movement and weak health systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every part of our societies and economies, and highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and our planet, which we can only address with a “One Health” approach.

To meet the challenge of future pandemics and other emergencies, we need to work together to accelerate the implementation of the International Health Regulations, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, among others.

Every day, WHO works with countries to strengthen their capacity to reduce health risks, build resilience and keep us all safer.

COVID-19 has reminded us that for all our differences, we’re one humanity, and that the only way to build a safer world is together.

I thank you.