WHO hub will strengthen global data access

The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its global Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin yesterday (September 1). Dr Angela Merkel, chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, was also honoured for her role in establishing the hub and received the WHO Leadership Award to loud applause.

The WHO hub is a global collaboration of countries and partners worldwide, driving innovations to increase availability and linkage of diverse data; developing tools and predictive models for risk analysis; and monitoring disease control measures and infodemics (too much information, including false or misleading information, during a disease outbreak).

It will further enable partners from around the world to collaborate and co-create the tools and data access that all countries need to prepare, detect, and respond to pandemic and epidemic risks.

In her address, Merkel thanked everyone for the award and commended the WHO for the work they do. She said Germany has been instrumental in the fight against the pandemic, and assisted with the development of vaccines.

Merkel referred to her meeting with various African presidents last week, and said data shows only 2% of the continent’s residents have been vaccinated. She stressed that while supply chains were vulnerable, there was a need to understand that the majority of people must be vaccinated to stop mutations.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said it was an honour to open the WHO hub. He referred to 2015, when the Ebola virus crisis erupted, and said Merkel was then already asking how future such events could be prevented.

The Ebola virus was contained within the borders of West Africa and the world was thus not prepared for a global pandemic when Covid-19 hit. “It is the defining crisis of our time and has taught us many lessons,” he said.

Dr Ghebreyesus said it has highlighted the need for data collection and detection which could contribute to the prevention of outbreaks. The hub will bring together scientists from across the globe to share their collaborative intelligence.

Dr Michael Ryan, executive director WHO Health Emergencies Programme, stated that the world was still facing the biggest public health crisis in its history. He commended Germany as leaders in the medical space.

The governing mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, said they were proud to host the hub as Germany’s 300-year history in medical research and science provides an ideal climate to work on global solutions.