COVID-19: We will only succeed through united global actions

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has reminded us of the harsh reality that diseases know no borders and we will only succeed in protecting all our people through united global actions.

This pandemic has brought great loss and hardship across the world. In the spirit of solidarity, G20 members and other invited countries have committed more than $21 billion to close the immediate financing gap in the global fight against COVID-19. Researchers and innovators around the world are working hard to find solutions to save lives. These investments are targeted toward supporting such work and providing diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and research and development that benefits all.

The G20 and other invited countries are also supporting humanitarian efforts to strengthen health care systems in low?income countries across the world, protecting lives and the most vulnerable.

Tackling the pandemic and its intertwined health, social and economic impacts has become the G20’s top priority, with its leaders committing to “spare no effort” in fighting this global pandemic and its impacts, while working alongside relevant international organizations.

That effort has also seen unprecedented action, with G20 members investing more than $9 trillion into the global economy to protect jobs, businesses and stabilize global markets. They have also agreed a G20 Action Plan and put in place the steps to lead us to sustainable economic growth. Members also agreed a $20 billion debt-relief plan to ensure the least-developed nations can focus all their efforts on fighting this virus.

Vaccines are the key pillar of building resilient and responsive health systems, which are imperative for our future global health resilience and will protect us from future pandemics. Continued action and contributions will assist in raising the considerable resources needed to accelerate the development of new solutions and ensure universal and inclusive access.

Developing new vaccines, treatments and diagnostics quickly and at scale, so they can be available to those who need them, remains our priority. The G20 leaders’ commitment to closing the immediate health financing gap for the development of a vaccine and working with partners, including co-leads of the Coronavirus Global Response and 50 nations and organizations across the world, has led to that funding gap being closed.

Countries and organizations around the world are joining forces to ensure that not only do we develop these lifesaving tools, but that we ensure they are universally available and affordable.

This goes hand in hand with the G20’s leadership protecting vulnerable populations and countries to ensure that health systems and front-line health workers, who heroically put their own safety at stake, are adequately equipped and enabled to tackle this medical emergency, slow the spread of the virus, and treat those affected.

Until we have better diagnostics, therapeutics and a vaccine that is available globally, every country in the world remains vulnerable. This is a global endeavor — no person, country or region can be left behind.

As many nations begin to move from immediate emergency responses to economic recovery and building future global resilience to better protect us in the future, there is still much more to do and the G20 Presidency is ready to stand with our global partners in our joint efforts.

• Fahad Almubarak is a Minister of State, Member of the Saudi Arabian Council of Ministers, and Saudi G20 Sherpa.