Johannesburg – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged G7 countries to help finance the World Health Organization’s programme to boost Covid-19 testing, diagnostics and vaccines, the presidency said on Sunday.
“We need to address the substantial financing gap for tests, treatments, critical supplies like oxygen and the health systems that enable testing, treatment and vaccination,” Ramaphosa said.
The president spoke on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Covid-19 Tools Accelerator, which aims to fast-track production and ensure equitable access to tests, treatments, and vaccines in the fight against Covid-19.
“We need to address the substantial financing gap for tests, treatments, critical supplies like oxygen and the health systems that enable testing, treatment and vaccination,” Ramaphosa said.
“If all G7 countries met their fair share target, this initiative would be two-thirds funded – and it would be 90% funded if all G20 countries made their fair share contributions,” Ramaphosa said.
HE President @CyrilRamaphosa participating in the G7 Leaders' Summit session ‘Building Back Stronger: Health’. The Summit brings together world leaders to discuss efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic and create a greener and more prosperous future for all. #G7UK pic.twitter.com/tQrJaz6Mf9
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 12, 2021
Ramaphosa also urged G7 members to support the TRIPS waiver on patents for COVID-19 vaccines and engage in negotiations that could help boost vaccine production.
Just last week, WHO released a statement saying that 90% of African countries would miss their vaccination targets which were set for by September.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said that Africa needed an extra 225 million doses to be able to vaccinate a tenth of its people by September this year.
As Africa nears 5 million Covid-19 cases, numbers are rising week-on-week and increased by nearly 20% to over 88 000 in the week ending on 6 June.
Also read: 90% of African countries will miss vaccination targets, WHO says
I welcome the support of US President @JoeBiden for a #TRIPSwaiver to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are urging leaders at the #G7 Summit to support a time-bound and limited waiver to expand the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines & medicinces. #G7UK #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/mb8VVmvvz5
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 12, 2021
Many thanks to Prime Minister @BorisJohnson for inviting South Africa to the @G7 Summit as world leaders discuss how to end #COVID19 and #BuildBackBetter. To succeed, we need to mobilise massive resources from the IMF and other institutions to fund a strong recovery in Africa. pic.twitter.com/R40Fgjey8l
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 12, 2021
Click here to read Ramaphosa’s full statement to the G7 summit.
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