Russian, WHO discuss cooperation in fight against COVID-19

Russian Health Ministe, Mikhai Murashko and World Health Organisation (WHO), Regiona Director for Europe, Hans Kluge met on Monday to discuss cooperation in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was a meeting with Hans Kluge. The main issues we discussed are related to our cooperation in fighting COVID-19,” Murashko said.

The health minister thanked the WHO European office for active interaction on issues related to COVID-19.

According to Murashko, Russia has carried out a series of events to support health systems in neighbouring countries and opened up access for medical professionals to information materials related to the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

The minister specified that he discussed with Kluge opportunities to promote medications and vaccines developed by Russia to the markets of other countries.

Similarly, Kluge expressed the health body’s appreciation to Russia for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V.

“The WHO is very appreciative to Russia for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly Sputnik V. I would like to thank the Russian Federation for great steps to develop a safe and effective vaccine,” Kluge said

Russia became the first country to register a vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 in early August. The country has since reached agreements with more than 20 countries to deliver over a billion doses of the vaccine and agreements with five nations to mass produce it.

Kluge went on to meet with Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, which has been in charge of handling the COVID-19 situation in Russia.

The two discussed issues of immunisation, especially of children, from other kinds of diseases, a process that was interrupted in many countries by the pandemic.