That grim estimate features in a new   based on the 3.45 million -related deaths reported globally to the UN health agency up to May; a figure that WHO said may well be at least 60 per cent lower than the actual number of victims.   To highlight the need for better protection, WHO was joined by global partners working to end the pandemic, to issue an urgent call for concrete action on behalf of workers in the sector.   Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated that “the backbone of every health system is its workforce.”  “ is a powerful demonstration of just how much we rely on these men and women, and how vulnerable we all are when the people who protect our health are themselves unprotected”, he added.  

Vulnerabilities 

WHO and partners said that apart from huge concern over deaths, an increasing proportion of the workforce continue to suffer from burnout, stress, anxiety and fatigue.  They are calling on leaders and policy makers to ensure equitable access to vaccines so that health and care workers are prioritized.   By the end of last month, on average, two in five of these workers are fully vaccinated, but with considerable difference across regions.   “In Africa, less than one in ten health workers have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, in most high-income countries, more than 80% of health workers are fully vaccinated", Tedros informed.   For him, more than 10 months since the first vaccines were approved, “the fact that millions of health workers still haven’t been vaccinated is an indictment on the countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines". 

Action from the G20 

In 10 days’ time, the leaders of the G20 leading industrialized nations will meet. Between now and then, roughly 500 million vaccine doses will be produced.  That’s the number needed to achieve the target of vaccinating 40 per cent of the population of every country, by the end of the year.    Currently, 82 nations are at risk of missing that target. For about 75 per cent of those countries, it’s a problem of insufficient supply. The others have some limitations that WHO is helping solve.  Speaking to journalists via videolink, Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and currently WHO’s Ambassador for Global Health Financing, said it would be a "moral catastrophe of historic proportions" if G20 countries cannot act quickly.  These nations have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion vaccine doses to . According to WHO, so far, only 150 million have been delivered.   With wealthy countries stockpiling millions of unused doses, close to expire, Mr. Brown said they should start an “immediate, massive, concerted” airlift of vaccines to low income countries.   If they don’t do it, Mr. Brown argued, they will be guilty of an “economic dereliction of duty that will shame us all.”   Mr. Brown also warned that “the longer vaccine inequity exists, the longer the virus will be present."  Annette Kennedy, President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and Heidi Stensmyren, President of the World Medical Association (WMA), also spoke to journalists at the WHO weekly COVID-19 briefing.   

That grim estimate features in a new   based on the 3.45 million -related deaths reported globally to the UN health agency up to May; a figure that WHO said may well be at least 60 per cent lower than the actual number of victims.   To highlight the need for better protection, WHO was joined by global partners working to end the pandemic, to issue an urgent call for concrete action on behalf of workers in the sector.   Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated that “the backbone of every health system is its workforce.”  “ is a powerful demonstration of just how much we rely on these men and women, and how vulnerable we all are when the people who protect our health are themselves unprotected”, he added.  

Vulnerabilities 

WHO and partners said that apart from huge concern over deaths, an increasing proportion of the workforce continue to suffer from burnout, stress, anxiety and fatigue.  They are calling on leaders and policy makers to ensure equitable access to vaccines so that health and care workers are prioritized.   By the end of last month, on average, two in five of these workers are fully vaccinated, but with considerable difference across regions.   “In Africa, less than one in ten health workers have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, in most high-income countries, more than 80% of health workers are fully vaccinated", Tedros informed.   For him, more than 10 months since the first vaccines were approved, “the fact that millions of health workers still haven’t been vaccinated is an indictment on the countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines". 

Action from the G20 

In 10 days’ time, the leaders of the G20 leading industrialized nations will meet. Between now and then, roughly 500 million vaccine doses will be produced.  That’s the number needed to achieve the target of vaccinating 40 per cent of the population of every country, by the end of the year.    Currently, 82 nations are at risk of missing that target. For about 75 per cent of those countries, it’s a problem of insufficient supply. The others have some limitations that WHO is helping solve.  Speaking to journalists via videolink, Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and currently WHO’s Ambassador for Global Health Financing, said it would be a "moral catastrophe of historic proportions" if G20 countries cannot act quickly.  These nations have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion vaccine doses to . According to WHO, so far, only 150 million have been delivered.   With wealthy countries stockpiling millions of unused doses, close to expire, Mr. Brown said they should start an “immediate, massive, concerted” airlift of vaccines to low income countries.   If they don’t do it, Mr. Brown argued, they will be guilty of an “economic dereliction of duty that will shame us all.”   Mr. Brown also warned that “the longer vaccine inequity exists, the longer the virus will be present."  Annette Kennedy, President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and Heidi Stensmyren, President of the World Medical Association (WMA), also spoke to journalists at the WHO weekly COVID-19 briefing.   

Mr. Drogba, from Côte d’Ivoire, will promote ’s  on how physical activity can lead to a healthier and happier life, and also highlight the value of sports, particularly for youth.  The Ivorian striker is best known internationally for his long and record-setting career at Chelsea Football Club, and for having been named African Footballer of the Year in 2006, and 2009. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team.   He also has a long track record off the pitch, of participating in various campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles, anti-malaria campaigns, and HIV prevention and control. 

‘Champion on and off the pitch’ 

During the announcement of his new role, in Geneva, Mr. Drogba said he was honoured to team up with WHO and “support its work to help people reach the highest level of health possible, especially young people in all countries.”  “I have benefited first-hand from the power of sports to lead a healthy life and I am committed to working with WHO to share such gains worldwide”, he said.   WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hailed Mr. Drogba as “a proven champion and game changer both on and off the pitch.”  For Tedros, the athlete’s support can help curb the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.   “We are pleased to have him playing on our team, and helping communities worldwide reach and score goals through sports for their physical and mental health and well-being”, Tedros said.   According to the WHO chief, Mr. Drogba will also support the mobilization of the international community to “promote sports as an essential means for improving the physical, mental health and social well-being of all people, including in helping  recovery efforts.”  The pandemic has highlighted the importance of physical activity. , up to 5 million deaths a year could be averted if the global population was more active.   

Lack of exercise 

Current global estimates show four in five adolescents, and one in four adults, do not do enough physical activity.  Globally this is estimated to cost $54 billion in direct healthcare costs, and another US$14 billion to lost productivity.  Increased physical inactivity also hurts health systems, the environment, economic development, community well-being, and quality of life.  Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various types of cancer, including breast cancer and colon cancer. 

World Cup health 

Mr. Drogba’s announcement as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador was made during a ceremony to launch the   The initiative is a partnership between Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health and its Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, WHO and world football’s governing body, FIFA, to promote sports during next year’s World Cup in Qatar.  Mr. Drogba joins other WHO ambassadors including champion Brazilian footballer Alisson Becker and his wife, the doctor Natalia Loewe; Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York; Cynthia Germanotta, President of the Born This Way Foundation and mother of artist Lady Gaga; and former UK Prime Minister and current UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown.