By Aabigayle McIntosh

Declaring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic is being billed as one of the World Health Organisation (WHO) ‘s major accomplishments in a year marked by health challenges.

Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the declaration marked a turning point for the world, marking the end of a three-year crisis and pain and loss for people everywhere.

“I am glad to see that life has returned to normal. WHO also announced the MPOX outbreak is no longer a public health emergency and we approved new vaccines for malaria dengue and meningitis disease that threaten millions around the world, mainly the most vulnerable,”

He said the path to eradicating another vaccine-preventable disease polio has reached its last mile. He also pointed out that 30 more countries introduced the HPV vaccine as the world advance towards eliminating cervical cancer.

Dr. Ghebreyesus also highlights the urgent need to continue the fight for climate justice citing that this was done at COP28 where heads of state committed to protecting the world from further damage and future pandemics.

“But 2023 has also been a year of immense and avoidable suffering and threats to health. The barbaric attacks by Hamas by Israel on October 7^th left around 1,300 people dead and over 200 take hostage,” the WHO Director-General said during his end of 2023 message.

He maintains without peace there is no health and without health there is no peace.