The World Health Organization fears a “collapse” of health systems.
Par AFP
LThe “tsunami” of cases due to the Omicron and Delta variants of Covid-19 will drive health systems to the brink of “collapse,” the World Health Organization warned on Wednesday.
“I am very concerned that the more transmissible Omicron circulating at the same time as Delta is causing a tsunami of cases. This is and will continue to put immense pressure on an exhausted health workforce and health systems on the brink of collapse, ”WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.
The international organization believes that the Delta and Omicron variants are “twin threats” that increase the number of new cases, causing spikes in hospitalizations and deaths.
The pressure on healthcare systems is not only coming from new patients, but also from the large number of healthcare workers falling ill, Ghebreyesus added. “Unvaccinated people are much more likely to die from one or the other of these variants,” he said.
The importance of vaccines
WHO wanted 40% of the world’s population to be fully immunized by the end of the year and aims for 70% coverage by mid-2022. Tedros announced that 92 of 194 WHO member states would not meet the 40% target by 2021.
“This is due to limited vaccine shipments to low-income countries for most of the year as well as subsequent shipment of vaccine doses close to the expiration date, without essential items like syringes.” , did he declare.
“It’s not just a shame, it has cost lives and given the virus the opportunity to circulate unchecked and mutate. Over the coming year, I call on government and industry leaders to walk the talk in vaccine equity, ”urged the WHO chief. “It is time to protect populations and economies through equitable global distribution of the vaccine,” he said.
In addition to vaccination, the WHO is also counting on the use of drugs next year to “end hospitalizations and deaths,” WHO expert Mike Ryan said.
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