- The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking US$11.5 billion in emergency funding to combat the more contagious variant of the Coronavirus Delta.
- Most of the cash that needs to be obtained from WHO partners is used to buy tests, oxygen and masks in poorer countries.
- The WHO did not immediately comment.
A draft report seen by Reuters shows that the World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking US$11.5 billion in emergency funding to combat the more contagious variant of the Coronavirus Delta, because there are fears that rich countries will partially bypass its Covid-19 -19 plan.
The document, expected to be released this week, stated that most of the cash needed from WHO’s partners is used to purchase tests, oxygen and masks in poorer countries. A quarter of them will be used to purchase hundreds of millions of vaccines for them, otherwise these vaccines will be used elsewhere.
The paper is still subject to change and outlines the results and financial needs of obtaining the Covid-19 Tool Accelerator (ACT-A), which is co-led by WHO and aims to distribute Covid-19 vaccines, medicines and tests equitably globally . world.
An ACT-A official told Reuters under conditions that the plan was set up at the beginning of the pandemic but was still severely underfunded, and its coordinator now admits that it will continue to exist because many governments want “in a different way.” Meet global Covid needs anonymously.
The documents show that, as a result, its total funding requirements have been reduced by nearly 5 billion U.S. dollars. But it still needs 16.8 billion U.S. dollars, almost as much as the funds raised so far, and it urgently needs 7.7 billion U.S. dollars.
The document also called for an additional US$3.8 billion on the basis of US$7.7 billion to select the 760 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine that will be delivered next year.
The document warned: “These purchase options need to be implemented in the next few months, otherwise the vaccine dose will be lost.”
Read here | Covid-19: WHO says Covax expects to donate 250 million doses soon
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that US$7.7 billion is urgently needed, but did not provide a breakdown of planned expenditures and did not specify how much additional funding is required for vaccines.
The WHO did not immediately comment.
The latest cash crunch will highlight concerns about the long-term future of the program, which has been working hard to secure supplies and equipment to control the pandemic that has killed more than 4.2 million people.
After major manufacturer India restricted vaccine exports to increase domestic vaccination rates, the vaccine part of the project, called Covax, is increasingly dependent on donations from rich countries rather than its own supply.
However, as part of vaccine diplomacy, the United States, the European Union, and Japan also directly donated vaccines to other countries. Japan also stated that this is faster than the process through Covax.
Some countries also provide equipment directly to other countries. Last month, Australia said it would donate oxygen-related equipment, antigen test kits and vaccines to Indonesia.
The cash request was made during the review of ACT-A, and countries such as France, Germany, and Canada are guiding the process. ACT-A officials said that consulting firm Dalberg Global Development Advisors is expected to release a report on the results and deficiencies of the plan in September.
oxygen demand
According to the report, ACT-A’s direct needs include US$1.2 billion for oxygen to treat severe Covid-19 patients in poorer countries that are under-supplied.
ACT-A officials stated that oxygen has risen on the priority list due to the unavailability of vaccines, emphasizing the impact of injection shortages as the Delta variant spreads to 132 countries.
On Sunday, New South Wales and Queensland on the east coast of Australia faced escalating battles with Covid-19 Delta variants. Millions of people were under strict lockdown. Authorities urged more testing and vaccinations to control the epidemic.https://t.co/H5iq1748Cg
— News24 (@News24) August 1, 2021
Covax has delivered about 180 million vaccines, far below its target of 2 billion vaccines by the end of this year.
The document states that oxygen is needed to “control the exponential death surge caused by the Delta variant.”
The document stated that the current global demand for medical oxygen is more than ten times that before the pandemic, but many countries are struggling to obtain sufficient supplies.
ACT-A officials said that one and a half years after the outbreak of the pandemic, the most basic treatment for Covid-19 is urgently needed, which shows that most parts of the world have done little to combat the virus and pointed out: “There has been no great progress. What was urgent three months ago is still urgent now.”
The document stated: “Inequality in access to life-saving Covid-19 tools has never been more pronounced.”
In rich countries, most people have been vaccinated, including young people who are less threatened by Covid-19, while in poorer countries, the most vulnerable people are still waiting for the first dose of vaccine and lack basic materials such as facial Masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
The document states: “Due to the inability to obtain sufficient oxygen and personal protective equipment, avoidable deaths and unsustainable pressure on health systems are increasing in many countries.”
The document stated that at least US$1.7 billion is urgently needed to purchase protective equipment for medical staff in poorer countries, and another US$2.4 billion is needed to facilitate testing in low-income countries.
