The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged China to share data on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, five years after the pandemic first erupted.
In a statement, the WHO said that sharing data and access was a “moral and scientific imperative”.
“Without transparency, sharing, and cooperation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics,” the statement read.
The world health body noted that on Dec 31, 2019, WHO’s Country Office in China picked up a media statement by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission from their website regarding cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan.
“At WHO, we went to work immediately as the new year dawned. WHO employees activated emergency systems on Jan 1, 2020, and informed the world on Jan 4.
“By Jan 9-12, 2020, WHO had published its first set of comprehensive guidelines for countries. On Jan 13, we brought together partners to publish the blueprint for the first SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test.
“All along, we convened experts and ministries of health from around the world, gathered and analysed data, and shared what was reported, what we learnt, and what it meant for people,” the world health body said.
WHO added, “As we mark this milestone, let’s take a moment to honour the lives changed and lost, recognise those suffering from Covid-19 and long Covid, express gratitude to the health workers who sacrificed so much to care for us, and commit to learning from Covid-19 to build a healthier tomorrow.”
“We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of Covid-19. This is a moral and scientific imperative. Without transparency, sharing, and cooperation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.”
Earlier this month, WHO stated that more than seven million deaths from Covid-19 have been reported to the WHO, but it estimates the true death toll to be at least three times higher.
Its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had then said that on average, about 1,000 deaths from Covid-19 were reported to WHO each week. This figure is only from the countries that are still reporting.
WHO also announced that it would be releasing a package of policy briefs to help countries update their policies to monitor and reduce the circulation of Covid-19 and to reduce illness, deaths, and long-term consequences of the disease.
Together with the World Bank, WHO established the Pandemic Fund, which now finances 19 projects in 37 countries, with US$338 million in grants.
