With science as a common language, countries, WHO and their partners continue to work in solidarity against COVID-19

WHO Representative in Uganda, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam (second from left) and Mr. Henrik Jespersen, Head of Cooperation, Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala (right), exchanged signed agreements witnessed by the Honorable Hanifa Kawooya (second from right) and Dr. Diana Atwine (left) at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala

The Government of Denmark, through the Danish Embassy in Uganda, extended a grant to the Government of Uganda through WHO, to support the implementation of the Response Plan to the Resurgence of COVID-19 developed by the Ministry of Health.

The year-long project will support the coordination of the COVID-19 response, strengthening case detection, reporting and response in community schools and closed settings. This is a key element in helping Ugandan health authorities to improve the management of severe and critical COVID-19 cases.

Uzbekistan: progress despite the pandemic, with the support of the WHO, the UN and USAID

Even before the pandemic, WHO had supported Uzbekistan to strengthen the country’s preparedness for a pandemic, develop communication materials, increase laboratory testing capacity, and strengthen the health system to effectively treat COVID-19 patients. . WHO has also supported the country in strengthening capacity to provide universal health coverage through a primary health care approach.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, contextually and culturally relevant risk communications They were designed and delivered, with the help of various United Nations agencies. The Ministry of Health led the creation of posters, infographics, and brochures in Uzbek, Russian, Karakalpak, and Braille to inform the general public, preschool and school administrators, and travelers about the virus, advise on protective behaviors, and dispel myths. emergencies about the pandemic.

Support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) focused on strengthening pandemic preparedness. For example, as early as December 2020, WHO / Europe and the WHO Country Office joined forces with the Ministry of Health and the Health and Epidemiology Service for Welfare and Public Health to publish the first weekly national newsletter on influenza and acute respiratory viral infection.

WHO also assisted the Government in a Joint External Assessment (JEE) to identify possible deficiencies in the emergency preparedness areas of the health system.

Latin America and the Caribbean: a regional genomic surveillance network tracks COVID-19 virus variants

The region faces a spate of worsening health problems as COVID-19 continues to disrupt healthcare services. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) reported that the Americas’ One-year regional genomic surveillance network closely monitors the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants throughout the region. It is essential to monitor the spread of the virus in border regions and among travelers. So far, 47 countries and territories in the Americas have detected at least one worrying variant and 11 have detected all four: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta.

Having started as a handful of public health laboratories in 2020, including the laboratories of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation / FIOCRUZ – Brazil and the Institute of Public Health of Chile (ISPCH), which perform sequencing for countries without local capacity, the surveillance network it has grown to include 24 labs. in total, including four additional reference laboratories in Mexico, the United States of America, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Saudi Arabia: successful and safe 2021 hajj season during COVID-19 pandemic

Cairo / Riyadh, July 29, 2021

When the hajj season ended, the WHO recognized Saudi Arabia’s efforts to successfully implement health and safety measures such as no cases of COVID-19 or other illnesses have been reported among the pilgrims. The host country has applied innovative technological procedures to protect the health of the pilgrims. Electronic cards, which recorded the pilgrims’ contacts and all medical data, were used to provide access to all religious sites, accommodation and transportation. It also helped facilitate the work of health authorities to identify crowded areas in all locations. Additionally, Saudi Arabia used electronic robots to avoid physical contact and disperse physical gatherings. The robots distributed bottled water and kept the religious sites well disinfected. Strict physical distance measures were observed in the two holy mosques, in the central areas of Mecca and Medina, and in all residential buildings and tents. All measures were based on a risk assessment and the evolution of national, regional and global epidemiology.

Ghana: Norwegian Ambassador reiterates support for WHO country office

July 28, 2021: His Excellency Ambassador Holm and Dr. Francis Kasolo, WHO Country Representative

The Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, HE Gunner Andreas Holm, reiterated Your government’s commitment to ensuring essential health services continue as long as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. The WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Kasolo, recognized the role of the Government of Norway as a key donor to WHO. Norway stands out as a major global player, showing strong commitment in a number of WHO priority areas, including universal health coverage, health security, healthier populations, and risk factors driving disease. Norway is supporting the implementation of a 5-year Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) Initiative in 4 countries, including Ghana, to increase the prevention and control of NCDs, in line with the WHO Global Plan of Action on NCDs .

Guatemala: donation and support from PAHO / WHO and Germany

From left to right: Minister Counselor and Deputy Deputy Director of the German Embassy, ​​Thomas Wülfing, Minister of Health, Dr. Amelia Flores, and PAHO / WHO Representative, Oscar Barreneche, during the event.

In recent weeks, Guatemala has recorded the highest levels of transmission since the start of the pandemic. In response, health authorities have promoted prevention measures such as the use of masks, hand washing and physical distancing, among other non-pharmacological actions, to reduce transmission and exposure and protect the most vulnerable, reducing mortality and morbidity. .