AIDS Healthcare Foundation Zimbabwe (AHF), Country Program Manager, Dr Enerst Chikwati
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Whilst strides have been made in advancing the Pandemic Agreement aimed at improving prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemics globally, a lot still needs to be done, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Zimbabwe (AHF), Country Program Manager, Dr Enerst Chikwati has said.
Dr Chikwati said despite efforts that are being made following lessons learned after Covid-19 and the ongoing discussions to address them, the Pandemic Agreement is still falls short falls short of meeting its critical obligations.
While there was the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body 12 meeting in September, more still needs to be done to ensure the Pandemic Agreement serves its full purpose, he added.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Pandemic Agreement was created by WHO’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), to address gaps which were seen following the Covid-19 pandemic which is estimated to have killed almost 18 million people globally.
It is further said that the Pandemic Agreement is a potential international agreement currently being negotiated by the 194 member states of the WHO. “Many governments and WHO leadership felt it was necessary to develop a new agreement to address some of the weaknesses in capacities and lack of international cooperation that occurred during the global response to COVID-19.
“The formal negotiation process (known as the International Negotiating Body, or INB) was launched in 2021.”
In a recent interview with this reporter; Dr Chikwati said despite the huge expectations, the Pandemic Agreement was still far from reaching the desired results.
“So far, the outcome is a net negative.
“While there has been some progress, much of the agreement is laden with caveats and limiting language, raising concerns about whether it includes meaningful binding commitments that can effectively operationalize equity.
“This is particularly troubling for our key issues of ensuring equitable access to pandemic-related health products, establishing regional production hubs in the Global South, securing binding commitments on technology transfer and intellectual property rights, and achieving sustainable financing for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
“Failure to adequately address these issues prior to the agreement’s conclusion risks leaving much of the world vulnerable to the unacceptable inequities witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He added: “As these final negotiations approach, our continued efforts are crucial to ensure that the agreement delivers on the promise of equity, particularly for African nations.
“Our collective advocacy can help shape an agreement that establishes a fair and resilient global health system for all.”
Dr Chikwati further revealed that at the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB12) in Geneva recently, it was critical to secure an agreement that addresses the stark inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These include inequalities in access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, with Africa bearing a disproportionate burden.
“We must ensure this does not happen again.
“An equitable pandemic agreement must go beyond mere promise – it must establish binding commitments that ensure all countries, regardless of income or size, can protect their populations in future health crises,” said Dr Chikwati.
He added that several things that had to be emphasized, like the need for a regional production capacity so as to have concrete mechanisms to facilitate the local production of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics in the Global South.
“This requires a binding roadmap for the transfer of knowledge, technology and long-term sustainable financing, as outlined in Articles 9, 10, and 11 of the draft agreement.
“Enforceable provisions that ensure technology transfer is not restricted to voluntary and mutually agreed terms, but allows low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) the same flexibilities that rich nations like the United States have to use non-voluntary means and ancillary measures to address public health emergencies and other crises.
“The agreement must secure long-term, binding financial commitments from high-income countries to support pandemic preparedness and response in LMICs.
“Effective global health governance now recognizes the crucial role of civil society and other non-state actors in decision-making processes.
“Embracing a governance model that includes their meaningful participation can enhance legitimacy, bolster accountability, and transform the global health security architecture into a more equitable and effective system to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to global health threats.”
Though mpox is yet to become a pandemic but a major concern for some countries especially those in the Global South, it is hoped that lessons learned from Covid-19 will be adhered to and maybe just maybe, the Pandemic Agreement will finally serve all nations.
