The theme of the summit is “Ending the Pandemic and Building Better Health Security to Prepare for the Next”.
According to the Presidency, the summit predicts agreement by leaders on four targets that will be announced by President Biden. This will aim to create lasting solutions to combat Covid-19 and future pandemics.
“President Ramaphosa has been central in the global leadership response to the pandemic over and above being the COVID-19 Champion for the African Union and the continent,” the Presidency said.
The recording of the summit is due to start at 17:00 and will be shared with all media afterwards.
According to the White House, “this meeting is about expanding and enhancing our shared efforts to defeat COVID-19, building out from previous gatherings of world leaders and Ministers in fora like the G7, G20, and Act Accelerator”.
It is reported that America will be asking participants “to commit to a higher level of ambition by expanding reach in four broad avenues”.
These four avenues include:
- Enhancing equitable access to vaccines and getting shots in arms
- Solving the oxygen crisis
- Making tests, personal protective equipment, therapeutics more easily available
- Establishing sustainable health security financing by tracking progress, and countries supporting each other to fulfil commitments
Media Statement: President Ramaphosa to address Global COVID-19 Summit
ALSO READ: BRICS initiative, New Development Bank, helps SA fight against Covid-19