Geneva (NVI): Nearly 19 million US dollars have been deposited by more than 1.1 lakh people to the COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund which was launched on March 13, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said today.
“These funds will help buy diagnostic tests, supplies for health workers and support research and development,” he said addressing media here.
“This is the defining global health crisis of our time. The days, weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve, a test of our trust in science, and a test of solidarity,” he added.
He said crises like #COVID19 tend to bring out the best and worst in humanity.
“We also ask people to express their solidarity by refraining from hoarding essential items, including medicines,” the global body chief said.
Hoarding can create shortages of medicines and other essential products, which can exacerbate suffering, he said.
Emphasising on conduct of test for coronavirus, the WHO DG warned, “This is a serious disease. Although the evidence we have suggests that those over 60 are at highest risk, young people, including children, have died.”
He said, “So far, we have seen epidemics in countries with advanced health systems. But even they have struggled to cope.”
He went on to add, “As the coronavirus moves to low-income countries, we’re deeply concerned about the impact it could have among populations with high HIV prevalence or malnourished children. We’re calling on every country & individual to do everything they can to stop transmission.”
