OU REP TELLS UN FIJI FIGHTING BOTH COVID-19, CLIMATE CRISIS

DURING THE CYCLONE RESPONSE, NOT A SINGLE CASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE CYCLONE WAS RECORDED UN Ambassador: Need for international solidarity in extending progress towards providing universal health care for all people – and especially across the Pacific Small Island states

Fiji continues to lead in calling for urgent international solidarity and more substantial support for the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). Most have to cope with the double burden; climate change disasters and the COVID-19 crisis.

The call was made to the United Nations Member states as it convened a high level briefing for the UN Ambassadors Group on Universal Coverage, co-chaired by Japan, Thailand and Georgia.

During the 2019 UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and world leaders endorsed a political declaration calling for Universal Health Coverage.

Fiji’s Permanent Representative to United Nations (PRUN), Ambassador Satyendra Prasad, in his address at the High level officials representing the UN Ambassadors last week at the World Health Organisations and the UN system, spoke on the need for international solidarity in extending progress towards providing universal health care for all people – and especially across the Pacific Small Island states.

Ambassador Prasad resonated the messages conveyed by Mr Bainimarama through his recent national address on COVID-19 - that “Fiji is now well on its way to eliminating COVID-19 entirely, and it’s one of the few nations on earth who can make that claim.”

He informed the UN audience that Tropical Cyclone Harold was one of the fiercest cyclones in Fiji’s history. It destroyed many livelihoods and displaced thousands into emergency shelters - all in the midst of national efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Fiji’s stance

Ambassador Prasad said it was commendable that during the emergency response to rebuild and recover, Fiji took the greatest of care to protect its citizens from the threat of COVID-19. During the cyclone response, not a single case of transmission from emergency responders to those in the path of the cyclone was recorded. This deep commitment to protect the wellbeing of Fijian communities at one of the most difficult times reflects deeply on PM Bainimarama’s exemplary leadership and dedication of staff across the Fijian Government machinery – Office of the Prime Minister, National Disaster Management Office; Ministry of Health and Medical Services; Ministry of Defence; working in consolidated partnership with Fijian civil society, WHO and Fiji’s diplomatic partners. Ambassador Prasad reminded the UN that “COVID-19 has exposed collective and national fragilities of health systems and given the scale of social and economic impacts; in many cases, the entire Sustainable Development Goal’s are now at risk.

He said that, “COVID-19 has the potential to overwhelm the health systems of small island developing states. Many national health systems are already overstretched.

We will only win this war of our generation if all countries have equitable access to equipment and supplies; if all countries have equitable access to testing capabilities; if all countries have equitable and free access to vaccines when they become available. Ambassador Satyendra Prasad Fiji’s Permanent Representative to United Nations

Commending our health workers

In Fiji’s case, our heroic health professionals - nurses; doctors and the entire health system have been mobilized on a warlike footing for three straight months responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic; responding to a climate emergency; responding to climate change-induced challenges such as the outbreak of dengue and leptospirosis – all the while maintaining all health services.”

Excuse for trade disruptions

Ambassador Prasad highlighted: “Many small island states face unfair restrictions in accessing critical equipment and supplies. Supply chain disruptions are causing serious strains on the supply and distribution of medicine across the Pacific region. Small states face yet another unfair advantage – many are now required to pay much higher prices for many essential medicines.

“Many companies are using these disruptions to supply as an opportunity to unfairly increase price of essential medicine. This impacts small island states the hardest.

“We will only win this war of our generation if all countries have equitable access to equipment and supplies; if all countries have equitable access to testing capabilities; if all countries have equitable and free access to vaccines when they become available.”

Climiate crisis remains

Ambassador Prasad reminded the UN that “the climate crisis remains a pressing health challenge. Many Pacific states spend more money each year on repairing and rebuilding health and health-related infrastructure that are degraded by climate change than on building new infrastructure. Fiji and Pacific need to invest considerable resources to relocate medical facilities in response to rising sea levels.” Ambassador Prasad expressed appreciation to the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG); the Head of WHO and the Resident Co-ordinators in the Pacific Region for providing more “cohesive support to help Fijian government’s efforts on containing COVID-19 and addressing climate change.”

He also conveyed Fiji’s deep gratitude and appreciation to Fiji’s partners - Governments of “Australia, Japan, New Zealand, European Union, United States, and others for their extensive support to Fiji’s efforts to crush the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Editorial >P8