Riproduciamo da TheConversation su licenza Creative Commons questo articolo molto importante che fa un primo consuntivo sulla esperienza drammatica del Covid 19 . Per favorirne la lettura in coda postiamo una traduzione automatica effettuata con google translator: il testo di riferimento rimane l’originale in lingua inglese. editor |
John Thwaites, Monash University; Liam Smith, Monash University, and Margaret Hellard, Burnet Institute
A global report released today highlights massive global failures in the response to COVID-19.
The report, which was convened by The Lancet journal and to which we contributed, highlights widespread global failures of prevention and basic public health.
This resulted in an estimated 17.7 million excess deaths due to COVID-19 (including those not reported) to September 15.
The report also highlights that the pandemic has reversed progress made towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in many countries further impacting on health and wellbeing.
The report, from The Lancet COVID-19 Commission, found most governments were ill-prepared, too slow to act, paid too little attention to the most vulnerable in their societies, and were hampered by low public trust and an epidemic of misinformation.
However, countries of the Western Pacific – including East Asia, Australia and New Zealand – adopted more successful control strategies than most.
This had resulted in an estimated 300 deaths per million in the region
(around 558 per million in Australia and 382 per million in New Zealand to September 12). This is compared with more than 3,000 per million in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The report also sets out 11 key recommendations for ending the pandemic and preparing for the next one.
Co-operation lacking
The report is the result of two years’ work from global experts in public policy, health, economics, social sciences and finance. We contributed to the public health component.
One of the report’s major criticisms is the failure of global cooperation for the financing and distribution of vaccines, medicines and personal protective equipment for low-income countries.
This is not only inequitable but has raised the risk of more dangerous variants.
The report highlighted the critical role of strong and equitable public health systems. These need to have: strong relationships with local communities; investment in behavioural and social science research to develop more effective interventions and health communication strategies; and continuously updated evidence.