(AGENPARL) – mer 26 aprile 2023 WHO launches new initiative to improve pandemic preparedness
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NEWS RELEASE
WHO launches new initiative to improve pandemic preparedness
Geneva, 26 April 2023 — To help countries better prepare for future pandemics, WHO launched a new initiative today that provides guidance on integrated planning for responding to any respiratory pathogen such as influenza or coronaviruses.
The new [Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats Initiative](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-r/), or PRET, incorporates the latest tools and approaches for shared learning and collective action established during the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent public health emergencies.
Through the initiative, WHO will use a mode of transmission approach to guide countries in pandemic planning, given that many capacities and capabilities are common among groups of pathogens. PRET answers the call for technical guidance and support for promoting and strengthening integrated preparedness and response, as outlined in World Health Assembly resolutions.
The COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies have shown that countries need to be operationally ready to respond to infectious disease threats, with tailored preparedness plans in hand and better coordination and collaboration with other sectors such as agriculture.
“Preparedness, prevention, and response activities must not be the province of the health sector alone,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Just as health emergencies have impacts across many sectors, so must our preparedness and response efforts span sectors, disciplines and pathogens. It is critical, too, that community engagement and equity are the centre of our efforts, especially for those populations that are marginalized and most at risk.”
PRET is an evolution in WHO’s approach to pandemic preparedness through the application of a mode of transmission lens, rather than a focus on specific diseases. WHO will continue to develop and disseminate guidance on specific diseases as needed.
The launch of the initiative is taking place on the last day of meetings with over 120 individuals representing Member States, partners, and the WHO secretariat, to define the path forward for PRET, including the development of a global implementation roadmap for respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness.
The PRET Initiative’s first module focuses on respiratory pathogens, including influenza, coronaviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the possible threat of avian influenza, this module will enable countries to critically review, test, and update their respiratory pandemic planning efforts to ensure they have the functional capacities and capabilities in place.
A process is underway to identify the next group of pathogens, such as arboviruses, to be addressed under this initiative. This will follow priorities identified through the ten proposals to strengthen the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience (HEPR).
The PRET Initiative ushers in a new era for pandemic preparedness and represents an evolution of WHO’s core activities to support all Member States in strengthening health emergency preparedness, prevention, and response capacities and capabilities. The initiative can also serve to operationalize the objectives and provisions of the Pandemic Accord, which is currently being negotiated by WHO Member States.
Following inputs and discussions among meeting participants, WHO invites stakeholders to this global call to action to advance respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness.
Call to Action
WHO, Member States, and partners are working together to identify and implement priority actions to strengthen national, regional, and global preparedness for pandemics and emerging infectious disease threats. We recognize the role of communities and all sectors, and the need for harmonized and sustained momentum to end the cycle of panic and neglect that is all too common in pandemic preparedness and response.
We recall lessons from previous epidemics and pandemics, especially those caused by respiratory pathogens. These pathogens have and will continue to pose a significant global threat with the potential to cause tremendous morbidity and mortality, overwhelm health systems, de-stabilize the global economy, and exacerbate inequities, which exist in the access to both the tools to prevent pandemics and health care for all people.
This is a Call to Action to accelerate preparedness for pandemics and emerging threats globally. Effective preparedness relies on robust planning and coordinated action. A collective commitment on the following actions will see progress achieved by December 2025 as will be described in the (Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) monitoring framework:
– Update preparedness plans that affirm priority actions and that have considered learnings from past events. Recognizing the risk posed by respiratory pathogens, planning for a respiratory pathogen pandemic based on the themes identified in the PRET Module #1: Planning for Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics is a priority
– Increase connectivity among stakeholders in pandemic preparedness planning through systematic coordination and cooperation. This includes building equitable systems; conducting joint exercises; and sharing information on good practices, challenges, and opportunities.
– Dedicate sustained investments, financing and monitoring of pandemic preparedness with a particular focus on addressing the gaps identified during past pandemics and epidemics.
The COVID-19 pandemic response has demonstrated what can be achieved with political commitment, community engagement and funding. At the heart of this work is to ensure equity to be ready for the next pandemic together. Whole-of-society action is needed to make the progress outlined in this Call to Action. Implementation should therefore strengthen the resilience of communities; maintain, sustain, and build on routine systems; and leverage broader capacities for emergency preparedness and response.
This Call to Action was released at the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET): Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held on 24-26 April 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
LINKS:
[WHO launches new initiative to improve pandemic preparedness](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-y/)
[Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) (who.int)](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-j/)
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World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1202 Geneva 27, Switzerland
WHO urges increased implementation of recommended tools to combat malaria
25 April 2023– Marking World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is issuing a call for increased implementation of new and existing interventions to save lives from malaria. Nearly 1.5 million children at high risk of illness and death from malaria in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have now received their first dose of the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S),thanks to an ongoing pilot programme coordinated by WHO.
The malaria vaccine pilots, launched in 2019, are increasing equity in access to malaria prevention for the most vulnerable and are saving lives. If implemented broadly, WHO estimates that malaria vaccines could save the lives of tens of thousands of children each year.
“We have the tools to drive down malaria, a package of interventions that includes vector control, preventive medicines, testing, and treatment,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “These are joined by a safe and effective malaria vaccine, which could save the lives of tens of thousands children every year. With sustained investment and scaled-up efforts to reach those most at risk, malaria elimination in many countries is in reach.”
World Malaria Day 2023 is being marked under the theme “[Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-i/)”. Within this theme, WHO is urging more effective implementation of available tools and strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria, particularly among marginalized populations.
According to the latest World malaria report, published in December 2022, there were an estimated 247 million new cases of malaria in 2021. The WHO African Region continues to shoulder the heaviest burden of the disease – accounting for an estimated 95% of all malaria cases (234 million) and 96% of all deaths (593 000) in 2021. Nearly 80% of malaria deaths in the African Region were among children under the age of five.
New strategies and tools
Countries have made some progress in expanding access to malaria services for most-at-risk populations. Despite some progress, many people at high risk of malaria still lack access to services that can prevent, detect and treat the disease. Challenges in expanding access to malaria services have been compounded, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, by the COVID-19 pandemic, converging humanitarian crises, restricted funding, weak surveillance systems, and declines in the effectiveness of core malaria-fighting tools.
To address these threats and support countries in building more resilient malaria programmes, WHO recently published new strategies and frameworks, including:
· a [new strategy](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-d/) to contain antimalarial drug resistance in Africa;
· a [new initiative](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-h/) to stop the spread of Anopheles stephensi in urban environments;
· a [new framework](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-p/), developed jointly by WHO and UN-Habitat, to guide city leaders in urban malaria control.
· a [new toolkit](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-x/) to help countries assess their malaria surveillance systems and identify areas for investment
WHO has also increased the transparency, flexibility and access to its malaria recommendations. The consolidated WHO Guidelines for malaria are now available through two digital platforms: [MAGICapp](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-m/) and the [“Malaria Toolkit” app](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-c/). WHO encourages countries to tailor the recommendations to local disease settings for maximum impact.
Prospects for new interventions
Continued investment in the development and deployment of new malaria vaccines and next-generation tools will be key to achieving the 2030 global malaria targets.
A second malaria vaccine, the R21/Matrix-M (R21) vaccine, if approved, could help close the sizable gap between supply and demand and further reduce child illness and death from malaria. It is a priority for WHO to continue the thorough and efficient expert review of the R21 malaria vaccine once additional key safety and efficacy data from the ongoing R21 phase 3 trial are available and provided to WHO.
Phased introductions of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in additional countries in Africa are expected to begin in early 2024.
In the vector control space, there are 28 new products in the R&D pipeline. Tools under evaluation include, for example, new types of insecticide-treated nets, targeted baits that attract mosquitoes, spatial repellents, lethal house lures (eaves tubes) and genetic engineering of mosquitoes.
Researchers are prioritizing the development of non-ACT treatments in the field of antimalarial medicines due to the emergence and spread of partial artemisinin resistance. The development of next-generation medicines, such as “triple ACTs,” which use a combination of artemisinin and two partner drugs, is underway to reduce the risk of drug resistance.
Notes to the editor:
For more information on the WHO World Malaria Day campaign, visit: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/2023
Related Links:
[Malaria Fact sheet](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-q/)
[World malaria report 2022 (who.int)](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-a/)
[The WHO Guidelines for malaria](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-f/)
Q&A on RTS,S malaria vaccine [https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/q-a-on-rts-s-malaria-vaccine](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-z/)
Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme
[https://www.who.int/initiatives/malaria-vaccine-implementation-programme](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-v/)
Malaria vaccine: WHO position paper – March 2022:
[https://www.who.int/news/item/04-03-2022-first-ever-malaria-vaccine-recommendation-now-published-in-a-position-paper-and-in-the-who-guidelines-for-malaria](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail19.com/t/d-l-zuyhhyd-iitylyihjr-e/)
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