The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Emanuela Del Re, spoke at the live streaming of the Global Health Festival dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on middle and low-income countries, together with Seth Berkley, CEO of GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines), and Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
“Italy was the first country to announce financial contributions to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 response mechanism, and one of the pioneers of the GAVI Advance Market Commitment, to ensure equitable access to vaccines in 92 developing countries” – the Vice Minister said.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Italy has called for the creation of this multilateral and multidimensional response, based on the core principles of international cooperation and solidarity, guided by science, medicine and innovation, to find solutions and defeat the virus. Based precisely on this vision, together we have successfully created the ACT-Accelerator, the most important multilateral and cooperative platform we have to ensure universal and equitable access to diagnoses, treatments and vaccines” – she continued.
“The incoming Italian Presidency of the G20 will be fully committed to carrying forward and supporting the fundamental work of the ACT-Accelerator and its partners. Global health will be at the top of our agenda, a key issue for discussions by leaders, as well as by other relevant Ministerial meetings”.
“The Italian approach to the global health crisis has been clear and consistent. We are working to provide relief both to the Italian people and to those living in the most vulnerable countries. Two approaches that are closely intertwined.” – Vice Minister Del Re concluded – “Leaving no one behind is not just a figure of speech. We are finally aware that the world is an interconnected and interdependent place. We must all face the same events. Until we are all protected, the virus will continue to spread”.
