Dr. Blade Nzimande, minister of higher education, science, and innovation, claims that the COVID-19 epidemic has had a catastrophic effect on public health systems and economic development around the world, endangering the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Millions have died, and economies have experienced a dramatic fall. There is a surge in poverty. Inequality is getting worse.
“Vulnerabilities and disparities within and between countries have been highlighted, putting the benefits associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk,” Nzimande added.
The 2022 South Africa Science, Technology, and Innovation Indicators Report was being introduced when he made his remarks.
Nzimande praised the role played by those in the national system of innovation (NSI) in responding to COVID-19 by joining international funding efforts, which resulted in the quick construction of hospitals and the production of medical devices and protective gear at affordable prices.
“The World Health Organization gave South Africa permission to form a top-tier consortium to establish the continent’s first technology transfer hub for COVID-19 vaccines.
The centre will be a key player in the development of the first messenger RNA technology in Africa.
According to Nzimande, it will also be in charge of importing technology and producing the first vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases.
Regarding the urgent issue of climate change, Nzimande stated that between August 2021 and April 2022, reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted the negative effects of climate change in all assessed regions.
“Some human and ecological systems have undergone irreversible modifications as a result of extreme impacts. Extreme weather events are anticipated to increase in frequency and severity, Nzimande added, similar to those seen in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022.
This, according to Nzimande, has huge implications for South Africa’s development goals, including those to increase employment and combat poverty and inequality.
In order to address the current and anticipated effects of climate change while transitioning to a just climate future, it is urgent to build a climate-resilient society.
Building an equitable society and achieving the SDGs depend on investing in cutting-edge mitigation and adaptation tools, he said.
Concerning the current economic situation, Nzimande stated that it has returned to pre-COVID-19 epidemic levels.
“Compared to before the COVID-19 epidemic, the actual GDP was marginally greater. However, in the first quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate was 34.5 percent, with black women and young people carrying the most of the burden, according to Nzimande.
“COVID-19 substantially tightened the already challenging NSI fiscal situation.
Budget cuts were made to [the Department of Science and Innovation] and [its] affiliates, according to Nzimande.
According to Nzimande, every indicator of poverty showed an increase in the proportion of households that were poor.
Other forms of deprivation, such a lack of access to clean water and sanitary facilities, haven’t changed over the previous ten years, he claimed.