Amidst rapid spread of Covid-19 and continuing challenges, the World Health Organisation (WHO) today emphasised on a stronger whole of society and whole of government effort in South-East Asia Region to prevent a long-haul with the pandemic and avert further loss of precious human and other resources.
“A more comprehensive approach is needed with communities at the center of our response,” regional director at the WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said, adding that most importantly, communities need to be engaged and empowered to take appropriate decisions and measures. “The onus must be on each one.”
At this stage, everyone needs to contribute to minimise health as well as socio-economic impact of the pandemic,” she said.
In recent days and weeks, countries in the Region have taken difficult decisions including implementation of unprecedented physical distancing measures to arrest the virus spread.
Nearly 1.5 billion people – in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand together – are currently experiencing lockdowns. Supported by communities, we should start to see impact of these measures in the coming weeks, she said, adding that simultaneously, this is also an opportunity for countries to enhance capacities of their health systems. “As physical distancing measures take effect and capacities are built, whatever the transmission scenario, with the right approach the virus can be contained.”
“In areas where community transmission occurs, it can be suppressed and controlled, the regional director said.
“Every case, cluster and evidence of community transmission would need to be aggressively responded to,” according to Dr Khetrapal Singh. “Basic public health measures such as active case detection, isolation, testing, treatment and contact tracing are among our most powerful tools,” she said, adding, “A strong surveillance is needed to assess and guide evidence based measures.”
The regional director also held a virtual meeting with health ministers of the Region to review the challenges. Most countries highlighted the need for essential medical equipment, testing kits, personal protective equipment for health workers and enhancing health systems capacities, specially to respond to community transmission.
The regional director said WHO will continue to work with the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to ensure all at-risk and critically affected countries are supported. “These shortages are a global problem, and one that will have a significant impact on the response,” she said. “If we cannot protect health workers, and are unable to adequately test, we will be fighting with one arm tied.”
The regional director commended countries in the Region for participating in the WHO Solidarity Trial. India, Indonesia and Thailand have signed up for the multi-country trial, which will compare the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against Covid-19.
“It is a historic undertaking that will dramatically reduce the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs are effective in treating Covid-19,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said, adding that the more countries that join, the faster we will have the results. “I urge all countries to sign up.”
WHO will soon be launching a second protocol for the Solidarity Trial that will help establish incidence and prevalence of infection and the future behaviour of the virus, she added.
“A more comprehensive approach is needed with communities at the center of our response,” regional director at the WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said, adding that most importantly, communities need to be engaged and empowered to take appropriate decisions and measures. “The onus must be on each one.”
At this stage, everyone needs to contribute to minimise health as well as socio-economic impact of the pandemic,” she said.
In recent days and weeks, countries in the Region have taken difficult decisions including implementation of unprecedented physical distancing measures to arrest the virus spread.
Nearly 1.5 billion people – in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand together – are currently experiencing lockdowns. Supported by communities, we should start to see impact of these measures in the coming weeks, she said, adding that simultaneously, this is also an opportunity for countries to enhance capacities of their health systems. “As physical distancing measures take effect and capacities are built, whatever the transmission scenario, with the right approach the virus can be contained.”
“In areas where community transmission occurs, it can be suppressed and controlled, the regional director said.
“Every case, cluster and evidence of community transmission would need to be aggressively responded to,” according to Dr Khetrapal Singh. “Basic public health measures such as active case detection, isolation, testing, treatment and contact tracing are among our most powerful tools,” she said, adding, “A strong surveillance is needed to assess and guide evidence based measures.”
The regional director also held a virtual meeting with health ministers of the Region to review the challenges. Most countries highlighted the need for essential medical equipment, testing kits, personal protective equipment for health workers and enhancing health systems capacities, specially to respond to community transmission.
The regional director said WHO will continue to work with the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to ensure all at-risk and critically affected countries are supported. “These shortages are a global problem, and one that will have a significant impact on the response,” she said. “If we cannot protect health workers, and are unable to adequately test, we will be fighting with one arm tied.”
The regional director commended countries in the Region for participating in the WHO Solidarity Trial. India, Indonesia and Thailand have signed up for the multi-country trial, which will compare the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against Covid-19.
“It is a historic undertaking that will dramatically reduce the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs are effective in treating Covid-19,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said, adding that the more countries that join, the faster we will have the results. “I urge all countries to sign up.”
WHO will soon be launching a second protocol for the Solidarity Trial that will help establish incidence and prevalence of infection and the future behaviour of the virus, she added.
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