Six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, global leaders and health officials are trying to keep the threat of future disease outbreaks on the international agenda. However, the issue has taken a backseat to other pressing concerns like wars, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, and the development of artificial intelligence. Despite this, the U.N. General Assembly and health experts are working to ensure that the lessons from the pandemic are not forgotten, especially as new health threats could emerge in the future. General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman emphasized the importance of reflecting on the pandemic's impact, drawing from his personal experience as a father to a doctor who treated coronavirus patients during the crisis. He highlighted the global community's challenges, including strict lockdowns, overwhelmed hospitals, and widespread economic disruptions. Rahman urged nations to remember these struggles and to remain vigilant against future health emergencies. The recent meeting focused on improving global preparedness, prevention, and response to pandemics. A draft declaration, obtained by The Associated Press, aimed to strengthen international cooperation and coordination. It proposed measures such as increasing funding for health systems, improving laboratory capabilities, and ensuring access to vaccines and medicines. The document also addressed the spread of health-related misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, while calling for policies that promote gender equality and universal access to family planning and sexual health services by 2030. Several countries, including South Korea, Cape Verde, Guatemala, and a group of African nations led by Burundian Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana, expressed support for the declaration. The Caribbean countries’ association also endorsed the document. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, noted that the declaration could help the world move forward in preventing future health crises. However, the declaration did not receive universal support. The European Union criticized the document for not addressing the need for more accountability in how funding is used. Germany called for a stronger focus on prevention strategies rather than just response measures. The United States objected to parts of the declaration that mentioned "divisive ideologies" and suggested a separate arrangement for countries to exchange virus samples for access to medical supplies. The U.S. has not been involved in finalizing the pandemic treaty, as it withdrew from the World Health Organization several years ago.