Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed Heads of State at extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit focused on COVID-19. 

“You have come together to confront the defining health crisis of our time: We are at war with a virus that threatens to tear us apart - if we let it.

I welcome the G20’s initiative to find joint solutions and work together. This is a global crisis that requires a global response. Fight, unite, ignite”, - said Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

First, he urged leaders to fight without excuses, without regrets – thanking countries who have already taken steps and urgently asking that they do more.

Second, he encouraged them to unite, stressing that no country can fight this alone, and calling on all countries to build on the solidarity already sparked by the crisis.

Third, he exhorted them to ignite a global movement to ensure this never happens again. 

The Head of WHO welcomed G20 leaders commitment “to do whatever it takes to overcome the pandemic to protect lives and livelihoods, as well as restore confidence and shore up stability currently threatened in trade and other sectors, and to commit to taking all necessary health measures and seek to ensure adequate financing to contain the pandemic and protect people, especially the most vulnerable”.