36 quotes found
"Tobacco not only wrecks health and health systems; it’s a drain on economies and the environment. [...] We must strengthen our efforts and scale up our actions while facing increasing interference from the tobacco industry. We are all familiar with the catalogue of deception, lies and half-truths in which tobacco industry specializes."
"We (WHO) are working 24/7 to support China and its people during this difficult time (COVID-19 pandemic) and remain in close contact with affected countries, with our regional and country offices deeply involved. WHO is updating all countries on the situation and providing specific guidance on what to do to respond."
"In the last few days the progress of the (COVID-19) virus, especially in some countries, especially human-to-human transmission, worries us (WHO). Although the numbers outside China are still relatively small, they hold the potential for a much larger outbreak."
"The main reason for this (global emergency) declaration (of COVID-19) is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries. Our (WHO) greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems."
"We now have a name for the disease and it's COVID-19."
"In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled. [...] Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. [...] We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."
"Every day, COVID-19 seems to reach a new and tragic milestone. More than 210,000 cases have now been reported to WHO, and more than 9,000 people have lost their lives. Every loss of life is a tragedy. It’s also motivation to double down and do everything we can to stop transmission and save lives. We also need to celebrate our successes. Yesterday, Wuhan reported no new cases for the first time since the outbreak started. Wuhan provides hope for the rest of the world, that even the most severe situation can be turned around. Of course, we must exercise caution – the situation can reverse. But the experience of cities and countries that have pushed back this virus give hope and courage to the rest of the world."
"Every day, we are learning more about this virus and the disease it causes. One of the things we are learning is that although older people are the hardest hit, younger people are not spared. Data from many countries clearly show that people under 50 make up a significant proportion of patients requiring hospitalization. Today, I have a message for young people: you are not invincible. This virus could put you in hospital for weeks, or even kill you. Even if you don’t get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else. I’m grateful that so many young people are spreading the word and not the virus. As I keep saying, solidarity is the key to defeating COVID-19 - solidarity between countries, but also between age groups. Thank you for heeding our call for solidarity, solidarity, solidarity."
"We’ve said from the beginning that our greatest concern is the impact this virus could have if it gains a foothold in countries with weaker health systems, or with vulnerable populations. That concern has now become very real and urgent. We know that if this disease takes hold in these countries, there could be significant sickness and loss of life. But that is not inevitable. Unlike any pandemic in history, we have the power to change the way this goes."
"COVID-19 is taking so much from us. But it’s also giving us something special – the opportunity to come together as one humanity – to work together, to learn together, to grow together."
"There was a premature push to, you know, especially reduce one of the options, like the lab theory [...] I was a lab technician myself — I'm an immunologist and have worked in the lab — and lab accidents happen. It's common. I have seen it happening, and I have myself had errors. So it can happen. And checking what happened, especially in our labs, is important. And we need information direct information on what the situation of these labs was before and at the start of the pandemic. Then, if we get full information, we can exclude that. So one of the challenges, again, is, you know, a challenge of access and also transparency with regard to the hypothesis that are put. [...] One of the challenges is … access to raw data, especially the data at the start of the pandemic — the raw data was not shared, [...] And now, we have designed the second phase of the study, and we are asking, actually, China to be transparent, open, and cooperate — especially on the information, raw data that we asked for at the early days of the pandemic."
"If Moderna worked with us, we could submit the WHO’s COVID-19 Vaccine mRNA Technology Transfer hub’s vaccine for approval at least one year sooner, which would save lives, decrease the risk of variants, and reduce the pandemic’s economic toll. We urge Moderna to share technology and know-how with the WHO hub and commit to not enforcing patents for COVID-19 and other essential vaccines in countries hosting the WHO hub and spokes. We also urge them to offer training to scientists working on those efforts through the Moderna mRNA access program."
"The international law maxim that defines the high seas as a common heritage of mankind and guarantees equal right of access and use to all states must be brought to reality in collaboration with other states"
"No state should be excluded from development opportunities due to geography"
"The time is now to work towards Africa's true independence, driven by African agency and guided by the common destiny of our people"
"The path of violence must yield to the power of diplomacy"
"The spirit, genius, and competence of humanity towards unity, justice, and collective wellbeing will triumph over the current atmosphere of rivalry"
"No state can single-handedly manage global challenges. We, therefore, call on fellow Member States, especially developed countries that have historic responsibilities, to reverse recent downward trends and intensify efforts towards the collective public good of development and peace."
"Africa, guided by Agenda 2063, is advancing development as its preferred security policy"
"Our G-20 membership is not merely a seat at the table; it is a platform that will make Africa an active contributor in shaping our collective economic destiny"
"We must also push for Africa’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council so that we will sure be part of the decisions that will affect and determine the destiny of our continent"
"Securing an energy-sufficient-Africa by encouraging member states to implement strong policy frameworks will be imperative"
"The African Union will emerge as a formidable institution and also serve as a strong platform of African citizenry as well as an agent of our collective will."
"The impact of urbanization in Africa particularly the growing demand for freshly processed foods and ready-to-eat meals significantly reshapes consumption patterns in urban areas"
"We have to know that in view of Africa's rapid population growth, meeting the increasing demand for diverse and high-quality food products will present challenges"
"Empowering women and engaging the youth will unlock the full potential of the sector as they are the drivers of innovation and resilience in our food systems"
"fostering regional policies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is essential for expanding market access, improving food security, and creating more resilient food systems across the continent"
"The full realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area promises to amplify the success of many African countries who are determined to be on track in building a resilient system in food security."
"Together, let us move forward with determination and purpose, committed to realizing our shared vision for Africa’s agrifood systems"
"We cannot afford to remain mere 'premium exporters' of coffee, cassava, cacao or precious minerals."
"We need partners who invest in empowering our human capital, not those who reward our dependence on raw material exports"
"Ensuring equitable access to the digital economy is not a luxury but a necessity"
"Let us also remember that history will judge this moment not by the agreements we sign but by the true progresses we accomplish"
"The cornerstone of a successful value chain is manufacturing. However, manufacturing requires a well-nourished population. That is precisely why food sovereignty should be primarily placed as a foundation of regional value chain for Africa"
"Africa must exercise caution in its dependence on incentives often linked to others’ strategic interests"
"The GERD is a great achievement that proves the strength of our spirit yesterday, examines our wisdom and ingenuity today, and shows the beacon of light we will have tomorrow"