Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasised the importance of countries of the world to pool strength and resources together to combat the ravaging Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, made the emphasis yesterday during the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group on COVID-19, held via videoconferencing.
President Muhammadu Buhari joined the NAM Contact Group summit from Abuja via video conference.
The meeting with the theme, “United Against COVID-19”, was presided over by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and current Chair of the NAM, Mr. IIham Aliyev.
In his remarks, Ghebreyesus described the NAM Summit on COVID-19 as a welcome development as “no country can manage the Corona alone.”
According to him, national unity, global solidarity and commitment to peace are vital in the fight against the virus.
“COVID-19 has affected all segments of the society – all countries must work together to ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.
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Aliyev thanked the member countries of NAM for unanimously endorsing the global fight against COVID-19 to protect humanity from destruction.
He said already, Azerbaijan had donated $5 million to the WHO to help combat the deadly Coronavirus disease.
According to him, Azerbaijan, on its part, has introduced several measures, including special quarantine region, which has extended to May 31 to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
He also added that the country had earmarked $3.5 billion for the implementation of the country’s social interventions programmes and tax holidays had also been offered to some companies to cushion the negative impacts of the deadly virus.
Aliyev hailed the WHO and the United Nations for their collaborative support in the global fight against Coronavirus.
He pledged that NAM would continue to share ideas and information with stakeholders to combat the pandemic.
The President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, who also participated in the teleconference, reiterated the commitment of the UN in the efforts to finding solutions to the deadly Coronavirus.
Noting that the virus has disrupted economies of many nations across the world, Muhammad-Bande commended NAM member countries for their joint efforts in the fight against the pandemic.
He, however, enjoined them to continue to build stronger economies that would address the difficulties being experienced by their respective citizens.
Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres noted with concern that the virus had so far inflicted serious damages on humanity and economies of the world.
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