WHO chief warns against complacency about Covid-19
June 20, 2022, 8:40 am

WHO chief warns against complacency about Covid-19

WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned countries not to be complacent about the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that risks of dangerous new variants remained real.

WHO Secretary General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that although the numbers of reported Covid-19 cases and deaths have declined 90 per cent from their peaks in January and restrictions have been lifted in many countries, "the perception that the pandemic is over... [is] misguided."

"[The] WHO remains very concerned that the lack of testing and sequencing is blinding us to the evolution of the virus," Ghebreyesus told a meeting of health ministers from the G20 group of the world's major economies in Indonesia.

He warned that "We are equally concerned that the lessons of this pandemic will go unlearned and the cycle of panic and neglect will be repeated."

Shanghai announces Monday April 18 the death of three people due to Covid-19 (Photo: Pixabay)

Indonesian Health Ministry spokesperson Nadia Tarmizi said that the G20 health ministers were expected to discuss ways to strengthen global health systems, harmonize Covid-19 health protocols and standardize international travel documents.

Tarmizi said at a news conference ahead of the ministerial meeting: "Global cooperation is critical to overcoming the pandemic and ensuring we are prepared for the next one."

WHO urges mental health action saying 'the suffering is enormous'

She aded that "For this reason, this meeting is an important moment for the G20 to gather support to increase the capacity of the national, regional and global health systems."

The health ministers were also scheduled to meet G20 finance ministers on Tuesday to discuss a Financial Intermediary Fund, a financial arrangement involving public and private resources to prevent and respond to future pandemics.

Source: anews

European Commission's head 'confident' Ukraine will be granted EU candidate status Ethiopia: Witnesses say more than 200 killed in ethnic attack

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”