Duterte to call for global solidarity vs. COVID-19 at UN special session

President Rodrigo Duterte will participate in the special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, Malacañang said.

Duterte’s office said the President will further amplify his call for global solidarity in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic during the virtual meeting, which will begin at 9 a.m. New York time (10 p.m. in Manila).

“Of particular concern for President Duterte are universal access to anti-COVID-19 technologies and products and the need for global efforts to ensure availability of safe and effective vaccines to peoples of developing nations,” the Palace said.

The President had earlier said all nations, rich and poor, must have equal access to immunization.

At the 75th session of the UNGA in September, Duterte said access to vaccines “must not be denied nor withheld.” Duterte also made a similar call at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits last month.

“The special session provides an opportunity for the international community to assess and hone its collective response to this pandemic,” the UN said in a statement.

“The two-day special session will allow many stakeholders to share their experiences in fighting the pandemic, reflect on the global response to date, and forge a united, coordinated, and people-centered path forward.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has so far infected 64.4 million people and claimed nearly 1.5 million lives worldwide, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.    —KBK, GMA News