Foreign Minister Shahid delivers a statement at the virtual COVID-19 Global Action Plan Foreign Ministerial Meeting co-hosted by Japan and the United States
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid delivered a statement at the virtual COVID-19 Global Action Plan Foreign Ministerial Meeting co-hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Hayashi Yoshimasa and the Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken, today.
During his intervention, Minister Shahid highlighted the disproportionate effect of the pandemic especially on vulnerable economies and urged countries to start sharing surplus doses of vaccines to address vaccine inequity. He also applauded the commitment of developed countries including the G7 leaders who have shared over 1.17 billion doses of vaccines to vulnerable economies.
Minister Shahid also stressed on the importance of narrowing the financial gap in the WHO-led ACT-Accelerator and its COVAX Facility, which plays a central role in addressing the current gross inequity in access to essential vaccines, testing, and treatments. He reiterated the importance of relying on an inclusive and effective financing mechanism such as the WHO proposed Financial Intermediary Fund, to better prepare for future pandemic threats.
The virtual COVID-19 Global Action Plan Foreign Ministerial Meeting focused on maintaining and strengthening the political will to enhance international coordination to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen readiness for future pandemic threats.