A new global board will oversee preparations for international health crises, it has been announced.
The board was announced as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo tests the extent that the world has improved its ability to respond to the virus since the west African epidemic.
The board will be chaired by the former World Health Organisation director-general Dr Gro Harlem Bruntland and the secretary general of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Elhadj As Sy.
It was unveiled at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.
WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a stark reminder that outbreaks can happen anywhere, at any time.
“Part of being prepared is having a means of assessing progress made at all levels, by all actors, identifying gaps, including in financing, and making sure all actors are working together, pulling in the same direction.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve done together with the World Bank Group to establish the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, and delighted that it will be led by such exceptional global health leaders.”
The president of the World Bank Group, Dr Jim Yong Kim said: “For too long, we have allowed a cycle of panic and neglect when it comes to pandemics: we ramp up efforts when there’s a serious threat, then quickly forget about them when the threat subsides.”
Dr Brundtland said there had been “encouraging” progress over the last two years.
She said: “With the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reminding all of us of the West African outbreak of 2014-15, the importance of being prepared for and resilient to health crises has never been clearer.
“Though the last two years of progress in improving capacity to respond to such events is encouraging, gaps remain – and it is time to stop talking about them, and start addressing them.”
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