Excellencies and partners,
Warm greetings to all and my sincere thanks for joining this high-level dialogue on building a healthy, resilient future in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the unique challenges SIDS face when responding to health emergencies, from geographic isolation and remoteness, to difficult topographies, limited or concentrated health workforces, and dependence on the supply chains of neighbouring countries.
It has highlighted the vast and potentially devastating impact such events can have on trade and economic activity, which adversely affect health and development outcomes. In 2020, SIDS experienced an estimated fall in GDP of 9%, compared with a 3.3% decline in other developing countries.
Framing these challenges is the ongoing impact of climate change and associated natural disasters, and the disproportionate burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and malnutrition.
Four of the world’s 10 most environmentally vulnerable countries are SIDS. An estimated 85% of premature NCD deaths globally occur in low- and middle-income countries, including in SIDS.
As the theme of this session highlights, the road to recovery must begin now, amid the COVID-19 response, and must focus on building health system resilience, enhancing emergency preparedness, and achieving full compliance with the International Health Regulations.
Immediate action is required to increase access among SIDS to COVID-19 vaccines. WHO will continue to work through the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator to bring vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics to all who need them, including in SIDS. No one can be left behind.
Mental health is an acute, chronic and cross-cutting issue, and must be included in overall efforts to strengthen primary care and build climate resilient health systems, which are especially important in SIDS. I look forward to hearing of Maldives’ progress in implementing the Region’s Malé Declaration, which Timor-Leste – the South-East Asia Region’s other SIDS member – is also implementing.
The pandemic has radically exacerbated the world’s ongoing food security and nutrition crisis, which disproportionately impacts SIDS. SIDS tend to be highly dependent on food imports, which are vulnerable to systemic shocks, and have the potential to create a second, though no less important, health emergency.
By strengthening food systems, and tackling the commercial determinants of health, we can build food systems that are healthier, more sustainable, secure and resilient, accelerating progress ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit in September and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in December.
Sustained and scaled up investments in health workforce strengthening, infection prevention and control, and increased laboratory capacity are essential to mitigate the health impacts of the many challenges SIDS face, from rising sea levels and tsunamis, to environmental degradation, and potential increases in the transmission of vector-borne diseases.
Increased efforts are required to enhance emergency alert, preparedness and response capacities, which must be achieved via a thorough and ongoing review of such capacities throughout the COVID-19 response and recovery.
In these and other endeavours, targeted, sustainable and predictable financing will be key, alongside partnerships that enhance access to and implementation of high-impact innovations.
I look forward to this opportunity to reorient policies and priorities, and to build on existing frameworks to achieve a recovery from COVID-19 that is healthier, more equitable, green and secure.
Thank you; I now pass the floor.