While recent data collection has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a , the impact on HIV treatment is less than originally feared. In a study conducted by UNAIDS, World Health Organization and 51勛圖 Children's Fund, only five out of 22 countries reported monthly declines in the number of people on treatment after Aprilthese include Zimbabwe in June, Peru and Guyana in July, the Dominican Republic in April, and Sierra Leone in May through to July. The remaining 18 countries did not show a decline and some countries showed a steady increase (e.g. Kenya, Ukraine, Togo and Tajikistan).
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing. A recent survey of 130 countries provides the first global data showing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health services and underscores the urgent need for increased funding. Prior to the pandemic, countries were spending less than 2 per cent of their national health budgets on mental health and the pandemic is increasing demand for mental health services.
This years , on 10 October, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that the need for mental health and psychosocial support will substantially increase in the coming months and years. Investment in mental health programmes at the national and international levels, which have already suffered from years of chronic underfunding, is now more important than it has ever been. This is why, the goal of this years World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health.
recognizes leadership is required to manage the negative dimensions of globalization and harvest the positive, to ensure progress is not overwhelmed by common threats. Resilient systems are only as strong as their weakest links. Stopping the next pandemic, which could be even worse than COVID-19, must be a priority. This requires reinforcing and reforming the to give it the governance, staff, and capacity it needs to be the worlds rapid-response fighting force on global health. Resilience cannot be delegated to others. It is everyones responsibility.
Countries that are already experiencing fragility, conflict, climate change and forced displacement will continue to face multiple burdens as results of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the huge challenges and risks health workers are facing globally. Working in stressful environments makes health workers more prone to errors which can lead to patient harm. Health worker safety is a priority for patient safety.
The guidance by , and , reaffirms the importance of schools for the social and intellectual development of children, for their physical and mental health and for the wellbeing of communities.
Real time RT-PCR is the most accurate method to detect the COVID-19 virus. The FAO/IAEA Animal Protection and Health Laboratory has been helping countries use this technique to detect zoonotic (animal to human) diseases like COVID-19 and Ebola for decades.
Survivors of COVID-19 from 37 countries are among almost 1,000 people who have signed an calling for a and treatments that are available to all free from patents. The letter came on the eve of a high-level side event about the pandemic at the UN General Assembly in New York. The letter says: Some of us have lost loved ones to this killer disease. Some of us have come close to death ourselves. Some of us are continuing to live in fear that contracting this disease would be fatal for us. We see no justification why your profit or monopolies should mean anyone else should go through this.
The far-reaching fallout of COVID-19
18 September 2020 - Despite efforts to break the global cycle of panic and neglect seen throughout multiple disease outbreaks, the UN health agency chief said on Friday that the new coronavirus has shown that the world was woefully under prepared.
In the latest episode of Awake At Night, , recently appointed Director-General of (the UN organization leading the global effort to end HIV AIDS as a public health threat by 2030) talks about what it's been like having to deal with the complexities of two pandemics at once; COVID-19 and HIV AIDS.
COVID-19 has torn a hole through society and shown us how closely health and a sustainable future are linked. calls to rise to the challenges and opportunities of the pandemic.
COVID-19 has taken more than 900,000 lives and infected more than 27 million people. The updated UN Comprehensive Response to COVID-19 report provides an overview of the data, analysis, policy recommendations and concrete support that the UN has made available to cope with the health, socio-economic, humanitarian and human rights impacts of COVID-19. The report outlines the steps needed to save lives, protect societies and recover better. As the Secretary-General he highlighted the importance of making a COVID-19 vaccine affordable and accessible for all.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the huge challenges and risks health workers are facing globally including health care associated infections, violence, stigma, psychological and emotional disturbances, illness and even death. Furthermore, working in stressful environments makes health workers more prone to errors which can lead to patient harm. Therefore, focuses on the theme: Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety. On 17 September speak up for health workers and share these .