Call for equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines to fight Covid-19

Nepal called for equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines to fight Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing annual ministerial meeting of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) held virtually on the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), today morning foreign secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal highlighted the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on peoples, societies and economies of the LDCs, including Nepal, and called for equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines.

He said that LDCs must build resilient economies with adequate physical infrastructure, advanced industrial and technological capacity, and expanded social protection systems to win the war against the virus, eradicate poverty and ensure the well-being of their people. He also underlined the need to build productive capacity for the structural transformation of their economy.

He called for an enhanced level of support from the international community in the areas of ODA, FDI, aid for trade, debt relief, climate financing, and technology transfer.

While expressing concerns about the upfront cost and loss of support measures, he said that graduation from the LDC category is our long-held aspiration and an important development milestone, and we are committed to making it smooth, sustainable and irreversible.

"As we prepare for LDC5 in Doha, we must focus on the unfinished business of the IPoA and chart out actions for sustainable and resilient recovery of the LDCs," he stressed, emphasising the need for a unity of purpose, global solidarity and strong and ambitious programme of action to avert the risk of another lost decade of development.

A number of ministers from LDCs, friends of LDCs and development partners, and high-level UN officials participated in the meeting. The meeting also adopted a Ministerial Declaration at its conclusion.