The United Nations (UN)’s marks the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on December 27th each year to stress the importance of preventing and preparing for epidemics. It highlights the need for global cooperation and working together to protect communities from health crises.
- 27th December 2024 marks the 5th observance of the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Background:
i.On December 7, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/75/27, declaring December 27th as the “International Day of Epidemic Preparedness” to be observed annualy.
ii.The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was first observed on December 27, 2020.
Epidemics:
i.An epidemic is when a large number of people or animals are affected by the same disease within a specific region at the same time.
ii.The term usually refers to diseases that spread quickly, like flu, malaria (spread by insects), and cholera (spread by contaminated water).
UN’s & WHO contribution to Managing Global Epidemic:
i.The United Nations (UN), particularly the World Health Organization, is crucial in coordinating responses to epidemics. It supports countries in preventing, mitigating, and managing the impact of infectious diseases, in alignment with the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
ii.UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 seeks to eliminate the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases by 2030.
iii.The World Health Organisation (WHO) designs global strategies to prevent and manage epidemic-prone diseases, including yellow fever, cholera, and influenza.
Flagship global strategies include:
- Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics strategy 2017-2026;
- Ending Cholera: a Global Roadmap to 2030;
- Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework
- Global Strategy for Influenza 2018-2030.
WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic :-
The World Health Organization (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is working towards a world where collaborative surveillance empowers countries and communities to minimise the impact of pandemic and epidemic threats.
- With the support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the WHO Hub was established in September 2021 in Berlin,Capital of Germany as part of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.
United Nations (UN)
Established – 1945
Headquarters – New York, United States of America (USA)
Secretary-General – Antonio Guterres
Member countries – 193
