By Jerry Omondi –
The World Health Organization (WHO) is hopeful that the health emergencies that have troubled the world in 2022 will be declared over at different stages of 2023.
Speaking on Wednesday at the organization’s press briefing, Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom pointed out that 2022 has been a challenging year , with the spread of diseases such as COVID-19, Mpox, Ebola and Cholera, in addition to other emergencies like floods and conflicts.
“We are hopeful that each of these emergencies will be declared over at different points next year,” DR Tedros said.
The WHO chief said since the peak at the end of January, the number of weekly reported COVID-19 deaths has dropped almost 90 percent.
He also noted that the number of weekly reported cases of Mpox has declined more than 90 percent from the peak.
Regarding cholera, he said vaccination programs rolled out had raised hope that the disease would be eradicated too.
Dr Tedros however asserted that there is still much to be done for the world to eradicate the health crises that have dogged it through the year.
He acknowledged, for instance, uncertainties and gaps that remain in the fight against COVID-19.
These include; gaps in surveillance, testing and sequencing; gaps in vaccination; gaps in treatment; and gaps in health systems.
