World can save lives and ‘end this pandemic, together’ – WHO chief

6 November 2020

UN Health

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues?evolving, the world must “take all opportunities to learn and improve the response as we go”, the UN health agency chief said on Friday. ??

evolve v. /i?v?lv/ ?

1.~ (sth) (from sth) (into sth) ?（使）逐漸形成，逐步發(fā)展，逐漸演變?The idea evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic. 這種想法是從我在閣樓里發(fā)現(xiàn)的一幅畫得到啟發(fā)的。 ?Each school must evolve its own way of working. 每個學(xué)校必須形成自己的辦學(xué)方式。

2.(生) ~ (from sth) ( 動植物等 ) ?進化；進化形成??The three species evolved from a single ancestor. 這三種生物從同一祖先進化而來。

“Many countries heard our call back in January when we?rang our highest alarm?by calling a public health emergency of international concern”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO)?told?a regular press briefing in Geneva.?

ring?highest alarm：拉起最高警報? ? ? ? ?Geneva： /d???ni?v?/日內(nèi)瓦

Since then, he explained that they have been working closely with the UN agency, following parameters set out in its strategic response plan, outlined on 4 February.

Set out:出發(fā)；開始；陳述；陳列

“They’ve conducted reviews, shared data and experience and honed their response to their national experience and unique situation on the ground”, Tedros continued, adding that they have also been strengthening their responses by using?Intra-Action?Reviews, which harness “a whole-of-society, multi-sectoral approach” at national and sub-national levels.?

in harness (with sb)（同某人）聯(lián)手；密切合作

“Intra-Action Reviews not only help countries improve their?COVID-19?response but also contribute towards their long-term health security”, the WHO chief upheld. “To date, 21 countries have completed them, and others are?in pipeline”.

uphold ?v. /?p?h??ld/ ?1.支持，維護（正義等）?We have a duty to uphold the law. 維護法律是我們的責任。 2.(尤指法庭)維持，確認（原判、裁決等）?to uphold a conviction/an appeal/a complaint 維持原判；受理上訴╱申訴

IN THE ?PIPELINE在討論（或規(guī)劃、準備）中；在醞釀中

‘Never too late’

The best time to look at country’s emergency response capacity is during an emergency, “when you can clearly see what works, what doesn’t and what you need to improve”, he said.

And wherever a country is, he maintained that they can “turn it around with a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response”.

“There’s hope, and now is the time to double down on efforts to tackle this virus” Tedros stressed. “We can save lives and livelihoods and end this pandemic, together”.

Health ministers speak ?

Having conducted reviews in real-time, the Ministers of Health from?Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia, shared?their experiences with the WHO chief.

Anutin Charnvirakul explained how Thailand drew on lessons learned from SARS back in 2003 and responded to COVID with a strong public health response led by identifying, isolating, treating cases and tracing and quarantining contacts of those infected.

“We commit to improving our response to COVID-19 by working closely with relevant stakeholders”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Zweli Mkhize gave an overview of the pandemic in South Africa, and how the country utilized the Intra-Action Review, the lessons it had learned and its path forward, which includes new committees at both national and provincial levels to ensure that recommendations being “incorporated into strategic plans” are implemented.

“COVID-19 is still with us and we must remain vigilant?and continue to fight together”, he warned.?

vigilant ?adj. /?v?d??l?nt/ ?警覺的；警惕的；警戒的；謹慎?? A pilot must remain vigilant at all times. 飛行員必須隨時保持警惕。

And Terawan Agus Putranto, Indonesia’s health minister, said their successful response to the pandemic had been built around “coordination, risk communication and community empowerment.”

He also acknowledged that the country needs to improve on its enforcement of “l(fā)ockdown restrictions and empowering the community, as agents for change”.?

原文鏈接：https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1077072