Hassan Merzam Muhammad lies on a bed at his family's hut in Hajjah province, Yemen. This picture was taken on November 23 2020.Last week I learnt from Jarno Habicht, the World Health Organisation’s Ukraine representative, about the high cost the Russian invasion is having on Ukrainian people, the damage caused to hospitals, and the mental and physical impact the war is having on health workers and civilians.
To prevent the multidimensional crises from turning into a death spiral for humanity there need to be concerted and creative efforts to bend the arc of history towards a solutions orientated, healthier and sustainable world. The vast majority wants to live in a world free of war, where they and their families can access good work, put food on the table and have access to essential health services and quality schooling.
Recognising that peace is foundational to our work on health, development and tackling conflict, the climate crisis and Covid-19, I am announcing a new “Peace for Health and Health for Peace” global initiative. It aims first and foremost to foster new dialogue around health and peace.
Simultaneously, it is important to strengthen health systems so countries can catch up on the many health issues that have seen progress backslide, while also preparing them for future variants of concern and potential new pandemics. While rich countries are rolling out “second boosters” — fourth doses effectively — it is incompetent and/or negligent that a few groups in those same countries are suggesting that vaccinating to similar standards is not worth it.