Drawing on Ebola Response, Secretary-General, in Video Message to Munich Conference, Says Global Security Demands Swift, Concerted Action on Public Health Challenges

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to a panel discussion on health security at the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, today:

The world faces multiple threats — natural disasters, economic downturns and prolonged conflict.  These increase inequities in access to food, water and other basic needs.  Those who are worse off get sicker and they earn less.  That breeds tension.

True global security demands a response to public health challenges and their underlying causes.  In today’s world, new infectious diseases can spread rapidly across the globe.  Misinformation causes panic.  Panic measures disrupt society and damage the economy.

We saw these challenges in the West Africa Ebola outbreak, which is subsiding now.  To draw lessons from that experience, I commissioned a high-level panel on the Global Response to Health Crises.  It aims to provide advice on how to make health security a global priority and ensure strong national and global health defence.

Prevention saves lives and cuts costs.  That is why we are preparing to act more quickly before the next health crisis.  Every country needs strong systems to detect, report and respond to outbreaks.

We need engagement by all actors, including the security sector.  By fostering better public health, we will boost our common security.

Thank you.