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. /iˈvɒlv/  

1.~ (sth) (from sth) (into sth)  （使）逐渐形成，逐步发展，逐渐演变•The idea evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic. 这种想法是从我在阁楼里发现的一幅画得到启发的。 •Each school must evolve its own way of working. 每个学校必须形成自己的办学方式。

2.(生) ~ (from sth) ( 动植物等 )  进化；进化形成 •The three species evolved from a single ancestor. 这三种生物从同一祖先进化而来。

“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：拉起最高警报         Geneva： /dʒəˈniːvə/日内瓦

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:出发；开始；陈述；陈列

“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）联手；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. /ʌpˈhəʊld/  1.支持，维护（正义等）•We have a duty to uphold the law. 维护法律是我们的责任。 2.(尤指法庭)维持，确认（原判、裁决等）•to uphold a conviction/an appeal/a complaint 维持原判；受理上诉╱申诉

IN THE ˈPIPELINE在讨论（或规划、准备）中；在酝酿中

‘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. /ˈvɪdʒɪlənt/  警觉的；警惕的；警戒的；谨慎 • A pilot must remain vigilant at all times. 飞行员必须随时保持警惕。

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 “lockdown restrictions and empowering the community, as agents for change”. 

原文链接：https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1077072