WHO Health Emergency Highlights #105

The global response to COVID-19 and recent Beirut blasts; immunisation against measles and polio; and online course on migrant health policy-making.

View this email in your browser Lebanon 20 tonnes of health supplies land in Beirut to support survivors of the 4 August blasts The supplies will cover 1 000 trauma interventions and 1 000 surgical interventions for people suffering from injuries and burns. WHO has posted a Donor Alert, calling for $76 million to support the humanitarian response, ensure continuity of COVID-19 care and address the needs of displaced persons. Global COVID-19 interactive timeline A visual timeline of WHO's COVID-19 response highlights key events since 31 December 2019. It illustrates how WHO has taken action on information, science, leadership, advice, response and resourcing to respond to the pandemic.  Yemen Now more than ever, health care workers face a double battle: disease and conflict Health care workers in Yemen are risking their lives to protect their fellow citizens from COVID-19. Doctors are falling sick, being put on ventilators and even dying. Sami Al Hajj, a young doctor working in Sana'a where he lives with his pregnant wife, says it has been the hardest thing to see his peers get the disease yet he shows no sign of giving up. Pakistan Essential polio vaccination campaigns resume Following a 4-month pause on all vaccination campaigns due to COVID-19-related restrictions, a small-scale polio outbreak response campaign provided vaccines to almost 800 000 children aged under 5. In line with WHO guidelines, health workers were trained on preventive measures to ensure the safety of frontline workers, children and their families. Ethiopia Not letting COVID-19 derail the fight against measles Nearly 15 million children were vaccinated against measles, overcoming the challenges posed by COVID-19. The 10-day campaign, longer than previous ones, was to limit crowding and the risk of COVID-19 infection. Vaccinators were trained on COVID-19 prevention, communities were encouraged to come, with supplies provided to keep everyone involved safe. Haiti Training for staff deployed to hard-to-reach communities More than 2 800 community health workers, health agents and nurses have been trained, with many equipped with personal protective equipment and communications tools like megaphones. In addition, WHO held meetings with community leaders including priests, pastors and traditional birth attendants to provide them with information and messages on protective measures, treatment centers and the continuity of essential services. Podcast | Africa 'There's a lot we can do' Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the first female Regional Director for Africa, has become the face of the COVID-19 fight in the region. As Africa closes in on the one million cases mark, she says facing the pandemic is easier than what she faced at the beginning of her career as a doctor fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1990s. "Now, we are willing to talk about inequalities and tackle stigma about disease," Dr Moeti shared on a podcast with Melissa Fleming, who leads on global communications for the UN. Burkina Faso Influencers, bloggers and activists work to manage misinformation Fifteen social media influencers and leaders participated in a workshop to learn about the response, how patients are cared for and what they could to help combat rumours. (In French) Afghanistan One patient recounts his experience with COVID-19 Thanks to the care of the staff at the Jalalabad COVID-19 isolation ward, Hussain went from being on a ventilator to making a full recovery: "They put their patients' lives before their own every day, and it is an extremely tough job. They work hard day and night and I remain eternally thankful to them for their dedication." WHO's work on COVID-19 in Afghanistan includes facilitating training for health care staff and supporting laboratories across the country. Video | Azerbaijan 'This chance to help is a big deal' In the middle of an international lockdown, 19 Azerbaijani doctors living in Turkey, returned home through the facilitation of WHO and its partners. The doctors went back to train their fellow frontline healthcare workers and help prepare hospitals to manage a growing number of COVID-19 patients. Online Course Ensuring accessibility, promoting health, and saving lives of migrants and refugees An online Summer School on refugee and migrant health, centred on ensuring accessibility, promoting health, and saving lives, will be held on 19-23 October 2020. Guided by scientific evidence and best practice, the course is targeted at policy-makers and the health and social service workforce. There is a limit of 100 attendees. Deadline for application is 15 September 2020. Annual Report: WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies Progress Report, February-June 2020 COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Covering February to June 2020, the report highlights progress under the three objectives of the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan: scaling up international coordination and support; scaling up country preparedness and response; and accelerating research and innovation. It provides an update on the resource requirements for the next phase of WHO's response, as part of a UN-wide response to COVID-19. 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