The pandemic has claimed the lives of 17.1 million people, many of whom could have been prevented, according to a report by The Lancet.

In the first two years of the pandemic COVID-19most governments were unprepared, too slow to respond to the crisis, and paid little attention to the most vulnerable, a sum of setbacks that cost a total of 17.1 million lives, many of which could have been prevented.

In addition, all efforts to combat the health crisis have been hampered by a lack of international cooperation and an “epidemic of disinformation,” the latest report says. Lancet Commissionwritten by 28 global experts in public policy, governance, epidemiology, vaccination, economics, international finance, sustainable development and mental health.

A white paper on the COVID-19 pandemic, published this Wednesday, concludes that all these global and wide-ranging setbacks have resulted in “millions of preventable deaths” and have reversed the progress made in many countries towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ).

“The staggering number of victims in the first two years of the pandemic is a profound tragedy and a huge social failure at all levels,” concludes the Chairman of the Commission. Geoffrey Sachss, professor at Columbia University and president of the Sustainability Solutions Network.

“The time has come for collective action that promotes public health and sustainable development to end the pandemic, close global health inequalities, protect the world from future pandemics, identify the sources of this pandemic, and encourage the resilience of communities around. peace,” he adds.

“We have the scientific capacity and the economic resources to do so, but a sustainable and sustainable recovery depends on strengthening multilateral cooperation, funding, biosecurity and international solidarity with the most vulnerable countries and people,” summarizes Sachs.

recommendations

The text includes recommendations to end the pandemic and deal with future crises, but warns that any effort will be futile without the international cooperation that revolves around the World Health Organization (WHO) “reformed and strengthened” and investments that strengthen health systems and focus on the most vulnerable.

The report assesses aspects of global collaboration such as partnerships to develop multiple vaccines in record time, government action to provide financial support to households and businesses, and emergency assistance from the IMF and World Bank.

But over the past two years, the report notes, there have also been several setbacks to global collaboration, such as a delay WHO by declaring a pandemic and recognizing airborne transmission of the virus, among other things.

Lack of cooperation in financing and distributing essential health products such as vaccines or personal protective equipment has also cost less developed countries very dearly, the report says. (EFE)