Patricia Scotland,Commonwealth Secretary-General
World News

COVID-19: Commonwealth health ministers endorse zero fees for tests, treatment

155

 

By Ajuma Edwina Ogiri

In a renewed effort to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the commonwealth health ministers have endorsed the removal of fees for coronavirus patients’ tests and treatment, especially for migrants and refugees.

The ministers also agreed to create a voluntary mechanism to share and distribute extra medical supplies, including ventilators and testing kits.

The decisions were contained in a statement released at the end of the annual Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting.

At the meeting, ministers presented effective national strategies to address the pandemic including mass tests, trace and isolate strategy, digital tools to monitor health status and track transmission routes and a clear communication line.
“We are now participants at an inflection point in history, and how we will be seen will be determined by how we act, right now in this moment.”The virus knows no nationality, race, religion, border or economic status. It is an interconnected issue threatening our global health and world economic order, and should be dealt with as such – guided by a culture of multilateral compassion and cooperation – not competition.

“At this critical moment, invigorated by our common pain and concern, Commonwealth countries have come together to provide the salve we need to deliver a coordinated multilateral response that will help thwart the pandemic and keep our citizens safe,” Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said.

The health ministers backed the need for unified action to recover from the economic turmoil accompanying the pandemic, while addressing critical health challenges and health systems’ vulnerability, particularly to recurring climate-related events.

They pledged to keep essential health services running for non-COVID-19 patients with a critical non-communicable or infectious disease while dealing with an influx of coronavirus cases.

In addition, they agreed to work with finance ministers to promote sustainable strategies to finance the implementation of universal health coverage with a focus on providing health care to women, the elderly, young people, marginalised persons and those with mental illness without facing financial difficulty.
The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “While coronavirus is an unprecedented shock to the world; through national unity and global solidarity, we can save both lives and livelihoods.”Across the Commonwealth, countries will need to balance the demands of responding directly to coronavirus, while also maintaining essential health services.”

Globally, around 4.7 million coronavirus cases have been reported; half a million of these are in the Commonwealth.

Persecondnews reports that the fast-spreading virus has contracted economies, shattered income streams and forced millions of people to stay indoors.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

63-year-old woman, teenage girl, two others killed in U.S. stabbing spree

A man armed with a knife went on a stabbing spree in...

Ex Guinea-Bissau President’s Son Jailed in U.S. for Drug Trafficking

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau,...

Togo dumps presidential system for parliamentary, adopts new constitution

Togolese lawmakers adopted a new constitution on Monday, moving the West African...

U.S. state bars under-15 children from having social media accounts

Florida State Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill prohibiting children younger...

U.S. bridge collapses after cargo ship collision, casualties feared

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed...

Outgoing Pres. Sall congratulates Senegal’s opposition leader Faye on presidential poll victory 

by Paul Ejime Outgoing Senegal’s President Macky Sall, on Monday congratulated opposition...

Senegal presidential poll: 44-year-old opposition leader, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, leads

Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is leading in the early race in...

Moscow attack: Four suspects in custody, death toll hits 137

Russia has charged four men who, it says, attacked a Moscow concert...

Senegalese file out on Sunday to elect new president

Senegal’s 7.4 million registered voters came out in large numbers on Sunday...

Moscow’s terrorist attack: Death toll rises to 115

The Russian investigative committee said at least 115 people have died after...

40 killed as gunmen attack concertgoers in Moscow after US Embassy warnings

Just west of Moscow, three attackers dressed in military fatigues stormed into...

“I am now in the early stages of cancer treatment,” Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, reveals 

After weeks of intense rumours about her health, Kate, the Princess of...

Botched tenure elongation: Senegalese intercede for peaceful, transparent, successful March 24 presidential poll

Ahead of the 24th March crucial presidential election, Christian and Muslim faithful...

13th All  African Games: IWF restates zero tolerance for doping

Mohammed Jalood, the President, International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), says the body has...

Haiti declares curfew as it tries to restore order after weekend jailbreak

Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency and curfew Sunday in a...

Blackout in California as the biggest snowstorm of the season hits the city 

A blackout in California occurred after a powerful snowstorm raged overnight into...

USAF soldier self-immolates outside of Israeli Embassy to protest Gaza ‘genocide’

A 25-year-old, Aaron Bushnell, has died after setting himself on fire outside...