Bahrain participates in UNSC Open Debate on Ensuring Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

New York, Feb. 18 (BNA): Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, Ambassador Jamal Faris Al-Ruwaie, took part in the Security Council Open Debate on Ensuring Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines in Contexts Affected by Conflict and Insecurity, which was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. In his speech addressed to the Security Council, the Permanent Representative affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's keenness, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to strengthen cooperation with international actors, chief of which is the World Health Organization to confront the pandemic from the beginning of its spread as part of effective international efforts. He also pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain has participated in international efforts to find safe vaccines by volunteering to conduct clinical trials in the third phase of one of the vaccines. The Permanent Representative said that the Kingdom of Bahrain's accelerated and proactive efforts to contain the virus and deal with its circumstances, with the establishment of the necessary infrastructure to manage a global crisis of this size before the detection of the first confirmed case in the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Bahrain, he stated formed a committee, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to coordinate efforts between various government agencies to take the necessary measures. Outlining the main measures taken by the Kingdom to limit the spread of the pandemic and contain its impact, he cited the daily meetings of the national task force for combating the spread of coronavirus and the application of a "conscious society" that facilitates the process of tracking the impact of contact and obtaining the necessary information related to the pandemic. The Kingdom has also launched a massive and intensive testing campaign and authorized the emergency use of available vaccines providing four vaccines free for both citizens and residents alike, he noted. At the international level, the ambassador explained that the scientific vaccination and vaccine manufacturing efforts have led to several vaccines to combat the Covid-19 virus in record time, which would lead to a gradual return to normal life around the world. He pointed out that at the same time, the pandemic demonstrated the need for international solidarity and coordination, as the world - especially the Middle East region - is still facing many challenges and threats in light of the continuing armed conflicts. Such conflicts have weakened Mideast infrastructure in terms of health facilities exacerbating the suffering of peoples in these countries, especially in light of the lack of necessary medical assistance to the needy due to conditions on the ground. In this context, the Permanent Representative renewed the Kingdom of Bahrain's support for the Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire, noting the importance of focusing the efforts of active states and international organizations on providing the necessary medical assistance to the needy, especially in conflict areas, to address the Covid-19 pandemic. He also stressed the importance of putting aside differences and boosting joint action to face the current challenges and raise the world's readiness to prevent such risks in the future. The Permanent Representative asserted the Kingdom's commitment to work with the international community towards implementing the goals of sustainable development and coordinating efforts to limit epidemics and threats to human health.