This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry and the business community that certain actions now should be undertaken with increased urgency.

Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise in Europe and elsewhere in the world. We are losing our first-line antimicrobials. Replacement treatments are more costly, more toxic, need much longer durations of treatment, and may require treatment in intensive care units.

We should never forget the government should be held accountable for providing services.

The way I look at - speaking as a woman - I understand what it means to be a daughter, and to be a wife, and to be a mother, and also to be a career woman. The multiple roles that women can play in a society if given the opportunity is really a tremendous asset.

The international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response.

The possible impact of the virus [Zika] an extraordinary event and a public health threat to other parts of the world.

When you're dealing with new and emerging diseases, you have no idea and you can't predict in advance what would happen.