Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaking at a virtual meeting with Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand and Co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, from her official residence Ganobhaban in the city on Tuesday — Focus Bangla Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has underscored the need for comprehensive reform in international pandemic preparedness and response, reports BSS.
"Covid-19 has been a global wake-up call… This pandemic has shown us that we are all connected.
None of us can be truly safe until we make sure everyone is safe," she said.
The PM said this while speaking at a virtual meeting with Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response from her official residence Ganabhaban in the city on Tuesday.
"Now is the time to work together globally to achieve the public health goals outlined in Sustainable Development Goal-3 and Goal-17," she said, adding, "This involves helping countries with fewer resources improve their ability to handle health risks."
Sheikh Hasina stressed the necessity of high-level political leadership in driving reforms for pandemic preparedness and response.
"High-level political leadership is indispensable in driving reforms related to pandemic preparedness and response. It sets the tone for global cooperation, instills confidence in public health interventions, and ultimately saves lives," she said.
The PM said: "As we navigate the complexities of future pandemics, strong and decisive leadership will be essential in shaping a more resilient and prepared world."
"We must also mobilise collective political will and commitment to strengthen WHO's knowledge, technical, and financial capacity for pandemic prevention and response by addressing the highly fragmented global health governance system," she added.
The PM assured that Bangladesh would continue to play a constructive role in this regard, considering its past success in protecting public health and dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She also opined that political leadership's engagement and commitment are essential in driving systemic changes that can enhance "our ability to prevent, detect, and respond to future pandemics effectively".
Sheikh Hasina said high-level political leadership ensures that pandemic preparedness and response remain a priority on the national and international agenda.
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