Business View Caribbean - Feb 2024

OPENING L INES Source- www.thecaribbeannewsnow.com, Caribbean News Editor, First Published Dec 28, 2024 The world must prepare for the next pandemic and act on lessons learned from COVID-19, UN Secretary- General António Guterres said in a message on Wednesday to mark the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of lives, caused millions of deaths and inflicted devastating impacts on humanity. After three years of unprecedented global efforts, on 5 May the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing however, that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat. “Economic damage inflicted by the pandemic endures. Many healthcare systems are struggling. Millions of children are threatened by disease after missing out on routine childhood vaccinations,” said Mr. Guterres. LESSONS TO LEARN The UN chief noted that three years after the first COVID-19 vaccines were developed, billions of people remain unprotected – overwhelmingly in developing countries.   “When the next pandemic arrives, we must do better. But we’re not yet ready.We must prepare and act on the lessons of COVID-19,” he urged. “We must renounce the moral and medical disaster of rich countries hoarding and controlling pandemic 11 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 02