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WHO launches report on nursing, calls for urgent investment in nurses
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new report that provide an in-depth look at the largest component of the health workforce globally.
WHO stated this in a statement issued at its headquarters in Geneva to commemorate the World Health Day on Tuesday.
The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every April 7, under the sponsorship of WHO, as well as other related organisations.
WHO declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and the year is significant for WHO in the context of nursing and midwifery strengthening for Universal Health Coverage.
According to the organisation, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic underscores the urgent need to strengthen the global health workforce.
In the new report on “The State of the World’s Nursing 2020,’’ WHO said it provided an in-depth look at the largest component of the health workforce.
It stated that some findings in the report identified important gaps in the nursing workforce and priority areas for investment in nursing education.
“The report also identifies priority areas for jobs, and leadership to strengthen nursing around the world and improve health for all.’’
The organisation said that nurses accounted for more than half of all the world’s health workers, providing vital services throughout the health system.
“Historically, nurses were at the forefront of fighting epidemics and pandemics that threaten health across the globe.
“Around the world they are demonstrating their compassion, bravery and courage as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: never before has their value been more clearly demonstrated.’’
The statement quoted WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, as saying “ Nurses are the backbone of any health system. Today, many nurses find themselves on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19.
“This report is a stark reminder of the unique role they play, and a wakeup call to ensure they get the support they need to keep the world healthy.’’
The report put together by WHO in partnership with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and Nursing Now, revealed that there were just under 28 million nurses worldwide.
“Between 2013 and 2018, nursing numbers increased by 4.7 million.
“But this still leaves a global shortfall of 5.9 million – with the greatest gaps found in countries in Africa, South East Asia and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region as well as some parts of Latin America.
“Revealingly, more than 80 per cent of the world’s nurses work in countries that are home to half of the world’s population.
“And one in every eight nurses practices in a country other than the one where they were born or trained.
“Ageing also threatens the nursing workforce: one out of six of the world’s nurses are expected to retire in the next 10 years. ‘’
To avert the global shortage, the report estimated that countries experiencing shortages needed to increase the total number of nurse graduates by on average eight per cent per year.
This, it suggested, should be done along with improved ability to be employed and retained in the health system.
“This will cost roughly USD 10 per capita (population) per year.’’
The statement also quoted ICN President, Annette Kennedy, as saying: “Politicians understand the cost of educating and maintaining a professional nursing workforce, but only now are many of them recognising their true value.
“Every penny invested in nursing raises the wellbeing of people and families in tangible ways that are clear for everyone to see.’’
April 7, 2020
COVID-19: Africa death toll hits 383, as cases rise to 8,596 – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are now 8, 596 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on African continent with 383 deaths.
READ ALSO: Trust in God, Coronavirus will pass away — Bishop
The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO.
“Africa now has a total of 8,596 confirmed cases, 383 deaths and 792 recovered from 51 Countries.
“Number of cases continue to rise on the African continent with 8,377 cumulative cases reported.
“Algeria and Cameroon have reported a sharp case increase in past 24 hours,’’ it stated.
Algeria had on Saturday reported 986 cases and 83 deaths while Cameroon confirmed 306 cases with seven deaths.
The agency said South Africa currently had the highest in the region with 1, 585 cases and nine deaths, followed by Algeria 1,251 cases with 130 deaths and Cameroon has 555 confirmed cases with nine deaths.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has 232 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 33 patients had been discharged with five deaths as at 9:30 p.m on Sunday
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus.
The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.
You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (one meter or three feet) with people who are unwell.
April 6, 2020
WHO inaugurates online training for COVID-19 responders
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, has inaugurated online training for Coronavirus (COVID-19) responders amid increasing lockdowns in Africa.
The UN’s health agency made this known on its regional official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Saturday.
“WHO launches online training for COVID-19 responders.
“This is to better train health workers, increase public health education and make communities safer.’’
On the COVID-19 update, the UN health agency said the number of cases continued to rise on the African continent with 7,246 reported cumulative cases.
“There have been 269 associated deaths and 662 recoveries reported.’’
The agency said South Africa currently had the highest in the region with 1, 505 cases and seven deaths, followed by Algeria with 986 cases and 83 deaths and Cameroon has 306 confirmed cases with seven deaths.
“Nigeria has 210 confirmed cases, 20 have been discharged with two deaths,’’ it stated.
The agency, however, advised health care workers to practice good hygiene in health facilities to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. (NAN)
April 4, 2020
COVID-19: Africa death toll hits 269, as cases rise to 6,860 – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are now 6, 860 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on African continent with 269 deaths.
READ ALSO: UK Unlikely To Relax Coronavirus Lockdown Until End Of May
The UN’s health agency gave the update in its regional official twitter account @WHOAFRO.
“They are 6, 860 cases on the African continent, with 269 reported deaths as at Friday.
“WHOAFRO urges all member states to continue enhancing information sharing mechanisms so we can better support in their fight against COVID-19,” it said.
The agency said South Africa currently had the highest in the region with 1, 462 cases and five deaths, Algeria 986 cases with 83 deaths and Cameroon has 306 confirmed cases with seven deaths.
“Nigeria has 190 confirmed cases, 20 have been discharged with two deaths,’’ it stated.
Meanwhile in a statement posted on the agency’s website, it stated that WHO Regional Office for Africa had hosted its first virtual ‘hackathon’ bringing together 100 leading innovators from across sub-Saharan Africa.
It was done in a bid to pioneer creative local solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and address critical gaps in the regional response.
As COVID-19 spreads rapidly across Africa, raising concerns about the strain on already fragile health systems, it has become clear that “solutions in the response requires action beyond the health sector.
“Innovation can play a critical role in that regard. It should be part of our DNA going forward,’’ said Dr Moredreck Chibi, the WHO regional innovation adviser who facilitated the event.
Hackathon participants were split into eight focus groups, each of which was tasked with developing an innovative and scalable concept aligned with one of the eight pillars of WHO’s current COVID-19 response strategy:
The eight pillars of response strategy were coordination; surveillance, risk communication and community engagement, points of entry, laboratory, infection prevention and control, case management and continuity of essential health services, operational and logistics support.
Over the course of the three-day event, groups worked on their respective projects via Zoom and WhatsApp, where they also received regular guidance and mentorship from WHO’s innovation team at WHO Africa regional headquarters in Brazzaville.
On the final day of the event, each group pitched their project to a team of WHO experts. Proposals ranged from mobile-driven self-diagnosis, screening and mapping tools to alternative low-cost methods for producing personal protective equipment (PPE).
The three highest ranking groups would now receive seed funding and further WHO support to help develop and implement their solutions.
“A lot of us have independently been working on solutions for COVID-19 on a small scale, but the hackathon gave us the opportunity and the platform to be able to expand on our ideas collectively across our diverse backgrounds”, said Laud Basing, a Ghanaian entrepreneur.
Basing’s group came out top of the overall rankings.
Their proposed solution uses a mobile platform that incorporates screening at the community level, mass testing and validation as well as the mapping of risk levels in different areas in real time for stakeholders including community health workers to then tailor their responses accordingly.
April 4, 2020
WHO says Africa’s window to contain coronavirus narrowing
About half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa still have a “narrowing’’ opportunity to curb the spread of coronavirus in the local population, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
WHO Africa Head, Matshidiso Moeti, said this at a news teleconference.
“The virus has multiplied across Africa more slowly than in Asia or Europe, but more than 40 nations on the continent have now reported a total of 2,850 with 73 fatalities.
“It has been a very dramatic evolution.
“Governments across the region needed to invest their efforts in aggressively tracing all those people who have been in contact with imported cases to isolate them and prevent transmission of the disease locally.
“Countries need to work on this containment while preparing for a possible, broader expansion of the virus,” Moeti said
The effort needs to be accompanied by public education campaigns to ensure people are maintaining physical distances, something that could help limit the spread of the virus.
This should also complement other measures put in place like halting passenger flights.
South Africa has ordered a lockdown of its population for three weeks while Kenya has imposed a night-time curfew to prevent the disease from spreading.
“We still have a window… it is narrowing everyday as data on the geographic spread to more and more countries tell us,” she said.
John Nkengasong, the Head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a health body of the AU, said African leaders were preparing to engage with their wealthier counterparts to secure vital equipment.
Equipment supplies are respirators and ventilators in case infection rates worsen.
Nkengasong told the same teleconference that countries with advanced industrial bases like South Africa, Egypt and Morocco could be used to produce such equipment if needed. (Reuters/NAN)
March 26, 2020
Taiwan says WHO ignored its Coronavirus questions at start of outbreak
Taiwan on Tuesday accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of ignoring its questions at the start of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Taiwan described it as part of what it has long described as a pattern that puts it at risk because of Chinese pressure to exclude it from international bodies.
Taiwan is barred from membership in the WHO under pressure from China, which views it as a province rather than a state.
It responded early to the Coronavirus outbreak in China, and has had notable success in limiting contagion so far, with just two deaths and 215 cases.
Taiwan’s government has said that keeping it out of the WHO during the outbreak amounts to playing politics with Taiwanese lives, and it has been denied access to first-hand information.
Meanwhile, both the WHO and China say Taiwan has been provided with the help it needs.
The island’s Centres for Disease Control chief, Chou Jih-haw, while speaking to newsmen in Taipei, said that it wrote to the WHO and China as early as Dec. 31.
Chou asked for information about the newly uncovered virus outbreak in China’s Wuhan city, including whether there was human-to-human transmission.
“We asked them whether there’s a possibility of human-to-human transmission. We indeed asked them and reminded them of the matter,” Chou said.
He said the WHO confirmed it had received the letter, but it did not respond.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, sitting next to Chou, said Taiwan had fortunately decided that same day to begin screening passengers flying in from Wuhan.
Taiwan activated its emergency operations centre on Jan. 2, a move experts say allowed Taiwan to effectively control the early spread of the virus.
“While Taiwan did send experts to China in January, they were not allowed to see any patients or to go to the market where the virus is believed to have originated,’’ Chen said.
That trip made Taiwanese officials realise they had to act quickly.
China confirmed human-to-human transmission on Jan. 20.
The WHO said on Jan. 12 there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission.
The WHO, in a statement to Reuters, did not directly address the issue of Taiwan being ignored, although said its office in China was informed of the “pneumonia of unknown cause” on Dec. 31.
“Since that time until now WHO has regarded the event as very serious and applied the full range of attention to it from across the organisation,” it said.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang denounced what he said were efforts to “politically manipulate” the outbreak, and that the WHO dealt with Taiwan under the “one China” principle.
Taiwan has also complained about the WHO listing its cases under China’s, saying this has confused countries into believing its situation is as serious as in mainland China, where over 80,000 cases have been reported.
March 24, 2020
132,000 cases of COVID-19 reported in 123 countries – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than than 132,000 cases of Coronavirus ( COVID-19) have now been reported to WHO, from 123 countries and territories.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, gave the update at a news conference on Friday in Geneva.
According to him, 5,000 people have lost their lives to the virus, describing it as “ a tragic milestone.
“Europe has now become the epicenter of the pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China.
“More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic.
“We are encouraged that many countries are now acting on the eight pillars of WHO’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
“Most countries now have a national plan; most are taking a multi-sectoral approach and most have laboratory testing capacity.’’
The director general said WHO had evidence-based guidance that every country could use, according to each of the eight pillars.
“And we are continuing to support countries to prepare and respond.
“We have shipped supplies of personal protective/equipment to 56 countries, we are shipping to a further 28 countries, and we have sent almost 1.5 million diagnostic tests to 120 countries.
“Our message to countries continues to be: you must take a comprehensive approach.
“Not testing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not quarantine alone. Not social distancing alone. Do it all.
“Any country that looks at the experience of other countries with large epidemics and thinks “that won’t happen to us” is making a deadly mistake. It can happen to any country,’’ he said.
Ghebreyesus said the experience of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and others clearly demonstrated that aggressive testing and contact tracing, combined with social distancing measures and community mobilisation could prevent infections and save lives.
He said Japan was also demonstrating that a whole-of-government approach led by Prime Minister Abe himself, supported by in-depth investigation of clusters, was a critical step in reducing transmission.
According to him, WHO has clear advice for governments, businesses and individuals.
“First, prepare and be ready and every person must know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves and others.
“Every health worker should be able to recognize this disease, provide care and know what to do with their patients.
“Every health facility should be ready to cope with large numbers of patients, and ensure the safety of staff and patients.
“Second, detect, protect and treat.
“You cannot fight a virus if you do not know where it is. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chains of transmission.
“Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.’’
He gave the third advice as reduction of transmission, saying “Do not just let this fire burn.
“Isolate the sick and quarantine their contacts. In addition, measures that increase social distancing such as cancelling sporting events may help to reduce transmission.
“These measures, of course, should be based on local context and risk assessment, and should be time-limited.
“Even if you cannot stop transmission, you can slow it down and save lives,’’ he said
In addition, he advised countries to be innovative and to learn.
“This is a new virus and a new situation. We are all learning, and we must all find new ways to prevent infections, save lives, and minimise impact. All countries have lessons to share.
“There are simple, effective things we can all do to reduce the risk of infection for ourselves and those around us.’’
Meanwhile, the director general acknowledged that COVID-19 had captured the world’s attention, saying“ there are still many other health issues people continue to face every single day, and that WHO is continuing to work on.
“Babies are still being born. Essential surgery is continuing. People still need emergency care after road traffic crashes. People still need treatment for cancer, diabetes, HIV, malaria and many other diseases.
“And for all of these, we need health workers. Today, I want to send a personal and sincere thank you to every health worker around the world.
“Health workers – especially nurses and midwives, who we are celebrating this year through the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
“You do a heroic job. We know that this crisis is putting a huge burden on you and your families. We know you are stretched to the limit.
“You have our admiration, our respect, and our commitment to doing everything we can to keep you safe and enable you to do your job,’’ he said. (NAN)
March 14, 2020
Coronavirus: WHO, ICAO reaffirm commitment to contain virus, protect travellers health
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have reaffirmed commitment to foster greater international cooperation to contain the coronavirus and to protect the health of travellers.
The assurance was made known in a statement jointly signed by WHO Director General, Mr Tedros Ghebreyesus and ICAO Secretary General, Dr Fang Liu, in Lagos on Friday.
They said the joint statement came amidst increased international cooperation in order to coordinate a more effective response to COVID-19, and was welcomed by aviation industry groups.
The statement noted the importance of states adhering to ICAO and WHO standards relating to the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases and to follow International Health Regulations (2005).
It said ICAO had been working closely with governments and industry partners such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI).
“This is to provide guidance to aviation authorities, airlines, airports, and advice to individuals, on appropriate measures that will protect the health of travellers and reduce the risk of transmission.
“IATA and the airlines are working closely with WHO, ICAO, and ACI to ensure that harmonised and updated procedures are made available in order to keep passengers safe, the world connected, and the virus contained.
“Travellers should be reassured that the industry is prepared to deal with communicable diseases as a result of experiences with previous outbreaks.
“The International Health Regulations of WHO are the established foundation for the coordinated global effort that will be required by all involved,” it said.
It also noted that ICAO had issued two electronic bulletins and a state letter to urge member states to adhere to the recommendations and guidance provided by the WHO.
The statement further revealed: “given the importance of considering detailed health and disease information alongside civil aviation policies and procedures surrounding COVID-19, both ICAO and WHO have been working closely together in recent weeks to develop expert advice and ensure coordinated global action.”
It said government aviation and health officials were also reminded to enhance cross-sector collaboration at the national level and establish National Facilitation Committees as required by ICAO Standards.
It also quoted Ms. Angela Gittens, Director General of ACI, as expressing appreciation toward the multi-sector and multi-agency communication.
“The COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on aviation has highlighted the need for effective coordination and a proportionate response from states.
“ACI welcomes the leadership shown by ICAO and WHO in this regard and will urge states to follow WHO advice.
“The health and welfare of travellers, staff and the public and limiting the spread of communicable diseases are the priorities for the aviation industry.
“So it is in all of our interests to have a common, easily understood, approach to help to prevent the spread of illnesses,” it quoted Gittens as saying.
The statement said Gittens welcomed the practical steps suggested by WHO that could assist travellers to protect themselves. (NAN)
March 7, 2020
WHO reviews COVID-19 to be ‘very high’ at global level
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has increased its assessment of the risk of spread and risk of impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to be ‘very high’ at a global level.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said this on Friday during a media briefing on COVID-19.
He noted that the continued increase in the number of cases, and in the number of affected countries over the last few days, were clearly of concern.
“In the past 24 hours, China reported 329 cases, the lowest in more than a month.
“As of 6 a.m. Geneva time this morning, China has reported a total of 78,959 cases of COVID-19 to WHO, including 2,791 deaths.
“Outside China, there are now 4,351 cases in 49 countries, and 67 deaths.
“Since yesterday, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Nigeria have all reported their first cases. All these cases have links to Italy,” he said.
He noted that 24 cases have been exported from Italy to 14 countries, and 97 cases exported from Iran to 11 countries.
According to him, WHO epidemiologists have been monitoring the developments continuously, thus the review of the assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to be very high at a global level.
Ghebreyesus said that what was presently seen were linked to epidemics of COVID-19 in several countries, but most cases could still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases.
“We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities.
“As long as that is the case, we still have a chance of containing this virus, if robust action is taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients and trace contacts.
“As I said yesterday, there are different scenarios in different countries, and different scenarios within the same country.
“The key to containing this virus is to break the chains of transmission,” he said.
Ghebreyesus said that work was progressing on vaccines and therapeutics, adding that more than 20 vaccines were in development globally, and several therapeutics were in clinical trials.
“We expect the first results in a few weeks.
“But we don’t need to wait for vaccines and therapeutics. There are things every individual can do to protect themselves and others today.
“Your risk depends on where you live, your age and general health. WHO can provide general guidance. You should also follow your national guidance and consult local health professionals.
“Together, we are powerful. Containment starts with you,” he said.
Ghebreyesus stressed that the greatest enemy for the world was not the virus itself, but fear, rumours and stigma.
He added that the greatest assets are facts, reason and solidarity. (NAN)
February 29, 2020
Coronavirus: WHO commends FG’s effort on response
Dr Clement Peter, the Officer-in-Charge of World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, has commended Federal Government’s efforts “to the timely response to the first case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in the country.
Peter gave the commendation at a news conference for update on the disease, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health on Friday in Abuja.
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, had earlier on Friday confirmed that an Italian citizen working in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy, to Lagos, Nigeria, on Feb. 25, 2020 tested positive to the virus.
The WHO officer said “it is commendable that Nigeria speedily detected the case and is addressing the matter in Lagos.
“We have been working with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to provide support on how to control spread.
“I am proud to say that NCDC is one the best control centres in Africa and we will continue to partner with the centre to address the situation.
“Now that we have a reported case in Nigeria, what is important is control and we will also facilitate other partners to support Nigeria.”
The official, however, called on journalists to report the virus accurately and to inform the public on the right things to do to prevent infection.
Earlier, Ehanire said that the ministry had keyed into the Africa Strategy to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
He, however, expressed concern that “coronavirus spreads easily because patients do not show symptoms immediately and might not know they have the virus for days.
“The man (Italian citizen) walked through the screening with no symptoms, but a day after he started to feel unwell, he wisely went to a hospital and the doctor examined him.
“He tested negative for malaria, and he was immediately referred to the virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), which is part of the Laboratory Network of NCDC, where he tested positive for Covid-19 and he was immediately put under strict isolation.
“We have been in touch with the aircraft authorities to find out who his seatmates were and how many people could possibly been infected.
“We will do everything possible and use every resource to limit and contain this virus so it does not spread.”
According to the minister, Nigeria will continue to follow WHO guidelines and will not put restriction on international travel or begin to quarantine travellers.
He said government would intensify screening at points of entry to prevent further importation of the virus.
“We will follow WHO guidelines because stopping international travel can backfire. So, as long as we can control it, we do not need to overreact, we are working with WHO.
“I only advice people to keep a social distance from people coughing and sneezing and observe respiratory hygiene,” he said.
He explained that as part of efforts to tighten response, Federal Government had increased reagents for testing so that it would not run short of testing kit.
The minister assured that there would be no shortage of the testing reagent and face masks in the county as necessary stakeholders had been contacted for its production.
He also said that the four laboratories across the country have full capacity to respond to the virus.
He recalled that Nigeria had already obtained treatment protocol from China, which was used to treat over 5,000 patients in that country.
Ehanire said that Nigeria would continue working with WHO, while training and capacity building was ongoing to tackle the virus.
The minister, who said that the identity of the patient from Italy would not be made public without his permission, noted that the Nigeria case is the third Covid-19 in Africa after Egypt and Algeria.
It is reported that over 83,000 people in at least 53 countries have been infected and more than 2,800 have died. (NAN)
February 28, 2020