International Epidemic Preparedness Day
International Epidemic Preparedness Day highlights the urgent need to invest in systems that can prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
In 2020, the UN General Assembly declared December 27 as International Epidemic Preparedness Day, in an effort to ensure that lessons are learned from COVID-19 for future health crises.
This day was announced one year after COVID-19 appeared in Wuhan in late 2019 and spread around the world, affecting and causing the death of millions of people.
Major infectious diseases and epidemics have devastating impacts on people's lives, wreaking havoc on long-term social and economic development.
Global health crises threaten to overwhelm already overstretched health systems, disrupt global supply chains and cause disproportionate destruction to the livelihoods of people, including women and children, and the economies of the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
The World Health Organization plays a key role in coordinating responses to epidemics, and in supporting national, regional and international efforts to prevent, mitigate and address the impacts of infectious diseases and epidemics in line with the goal of advancing the 2030 Agenda.
UN member states commit to ensure inclusive, equal and non-discriminatory participation, with special attention to those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations with the highest chances of epidemic infection.
