Averting future pandemics
Investing in preparedness and use of digital tech are vital
The UN General Assembly recently organised an event around breaking the panic-then-forget cycle around responsiveness to health emergencies. The strong underlying message conveyed during the event was that the Covid-19 pandemic is unlikely to be the last health emergency globally.
Once an outbreak is controlled, attention is again directed to other concerns, discounting the possibility of another health emergency until it occurs. Several reports indicate that investments in preparedness would only cost $5 per person annually. The cost of the current pandemic has exceeded trillions of dollars and the number continues to increase. There is a need for a transformative and proactive approach to prevent future pandemics — or even becoming more resilient against them.