WHO Health Emergency Highlights #102

Updates on the situation in countries, and the global response to different health emergencies, especially COVID-19.

View this email in your browser Yemen Bringing medicines and COVID-19 supplies to a war-torn country Nevien Attalla, WHO logistics expert, shares her experience of a shipment that she describes as 'the perfect storm': millions of dollars' worth of supplies, including cancer medicines and COVID-19 laboratory tests bound for Yemen, a country ravaged by war and highly complex to reach. Democratic Republic of the Congo The latest wave of Ebola is a different virus The new Ebola virus circulating in the Equateur Province in western Democratic Republic of the Congo is different from the one that has infected over 3,400 people in the eastern part of the country.  Global/Africa New Report: HIV prevention and contraceptive services must be inclusive and integrated With high HIV incidence among women in southern Africa, a new WHO-UNAIDS report calls for improved and integrated HIV prevention and contraceptive services, to be inclusive of the diverse needs of all women and adolescent girls in broader sexual and reproductive health and rights programming. Bhutan Medical camps kits now used as flu clinics Every health emergency is a chance to innovate and prepare better for future crises. Learning from the destruction of the Nepal earthquake in 2015, WHO has been building medical camp kits in Bhutan as flu clinics to ensure the continuity of primary health services, amidst the COVID-19 response. The Americas New Guidance: Ensuring ethnic groups have fair protection and access to health services To reduce COVID-19 transmission in indigenous populations, Afro-descendants, and other ethnic groups, WHO issued guidance on promoting hygiene, social distancing, and improving access to health care in their communities. These groups face increased vulnerability due to poverty, poor access to basic services, and cultural barriers. Fiji Mothers urged to continue breastfeeding during health crises WHO, UNICEF, and the IBFAN reports that Pacific Island countries have few measures protecting parents from misinformation, despite efforts to stop the harmful promotion of breast-milk substitutes. This is an especially crucial issue during health emergencies. Viet Nam VIDEO: Unsung heroes: Caring for COVID-19 patients "We have responded to many outbreaks, including dengue, chickenpox, and rubella. [But] a working day in this COVID-19 pandemic is different." Europe Significant increase in domestic violence across the region Reports on domestic violence has been documented in countries across the European Region. Because of lockdown measures, victims are unable or unwilling to leave home for fear of infection or penalties of breaching quarantine rules. As part of a global strategy and campaign to end violence, WHO developed guidelines on violence prevention in the INSPIRE and RESPECT frameworks. Austria A health worker survives COVID-19: 'It didn't kill me, but I came out stronger' After a nurse contracted COVID-19 at the elderly care facility he works in, he returned to work with an even stronger commitment for his job and compassion for his patients. Contributions to the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies Allocations from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies More information on funding WHO's work in emergencies: WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies web portal Health Emergency Programme Results Framework and Budget Requirements Subscribe to the Health Emergency Highlights www.who.int/emergencies Copyright © 2020 World Health Organization, all rights reserved. Would you like to change how you receive these emails? Update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list