The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems worldwide. The rapidly increasing demand on health facilities and health care workers threatens to leave some health systems overstretched and unable to operate effectively.
Previous outbreaks have demonstrated that when health systems are overwhelmed, mortality from vaccine-preventable and other treatable conditions can also increase dramatically. During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the increased number of deaths caused
by measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis attributable to health system failures exceeded deaths from Ebola
[1,2].
“The best defense against any outbreak is a
strong health system,” stressed WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“COVID-19 is revealing how fragile many of the world’s health systems and
services are, forcing countries to make difficult choices on how to best meet
the needs of their people.”
To help countries navigate through these challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated operational planning guidelines in balancing the demands of responding directly to COVID-19 while maintaining essential health service delivery, and mitigating
the risk of system collapse. This includes a set of targeted immediate actions that countries should consider at national, regional, and local level to reorganize and maintain access to high-quality essential health services for all.
Countries should identify essential services that will be prioritized in their efforts to maintain continuity of service delivery and make strategic shifts to ensure that increasingly limited resources provide maximum benefit for the population. They
also need to comply with the highest standard in precautions, especially in hygiene practices, and the provision of adequate supplies including personal protective equipment This requires robust planning and coordinated actions between governments
and health facilities and their managers.
Some examples of essential services include: routine vaccination; reproductive health services including care during pregnancy and childbirth; care of young infants and older adults; management of mental health conditions as well as noncommunicable diseases
and infectious diseases like HIV, malaria and TB; critical inpatient therapies; management of emergency health conditions; auxiliary services like basic diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and blood bank services, among others.
Well-organized and prepared health systems can continue to provide equitable access to essential service delivery throughout an emergency, limiting direct mortality and avoiding increased indirect mortality.
The guidelines stress the importance of keeping up-to-date information. This requires frequent transparent communications with the public, and strong community engagements so the public can maintain trust in the system to safely meet their
essential needs and to control infection risk in health facilities. This will help ensure that people continue to seek care when appropriate, and adhere to public health advice.
1. Elston, J. W. T., Cartwright, C., Ndumbi, P., & Wright, J. (2017). The health impact of the 2014–15 Ebola outbreak. Public Health, 143, 60-70.
2. Parpia, A. S., Ndeffo-Mbah, M. L., Wenzel, N. S., & Galvani, A. P. (2016). Effects of response to 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak on deaths from malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, West Africa. Emerging infectious diseases, 22(3), 433.
For interviews please contact: Tarik Jasarevic
To access the full guidance please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/maintaining-essential-health-services-and-systems
For further information and guidance on COVID-19 please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
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Dear colleagues and friends,
World TB Day, this year, comes at a sobering time – as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. We stand in solidarity with those affected, those at the frontlines of the fight to combat COVID-19, as well as those who continue efforts to support
those ill with longstanding health problems like TB, HIV and other diseases. However, we cannot forget the millions and their families who battle TB every day and lose their lives to this ancient disease – which remains the world’s top
infectious killer.
As eloquently emphasized by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his press briefing on COVID-19 yesterday, “I’d like to remind everyone that although COVID-19 is dominating the world’s attention-there is another respiratory
disease that is both preventable and treatable, but kills 1.5 million people every year – that disease is tuberculosis”
“It’s Time”, the focus for World TB Day this year is therefore on urgently accelerating the TB response to save lives and end suffering, even in times of crisis. This will be essential if we are to reach the targets and commitments made
by Heads of State at the 2018 UN High Level Meeting on TB.
We have made important strides against the TB epidemic to date.
We announced last year, that more people received life-saving treatment for tuberculosis in 2018 than ever before, largely due to improved detection and diagnosis. Globally, 7 million people were diagnosed and treated for TB – up from 6.4 million in 2017
– enabling the world to meet one of the milestones towards the United Nations political declaration targets on TB and the WHO Director-General Flagship Initiative Find.Treat.All End TB jointly with Stop TB Partnership and the Global Fund. This
has been a big win for the TB community.
WHO is working with countries to roll out important guidelines, including a comprehensive package on TB preventive treatment released today, and updated MDR TB guidelines to promote the use of all-oral regimens for patients with drug-resistant TB which
would be helpful – particularly at this point, when visiting health centers is a challenge. Furthermore, WHO has developed a note to guide and urge countries to ensure continuity of TB services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are strengthening our collaboration with civil society – more information is highlighted in the WHO Civil Society Taskforce Progress Review released today.
Youth mobilization is being ramped up through the WHO 1+1 Youth Initiative to end TB and the Global Youth Declaration to End TB. Multisectoral accountability is being promoted in countries through our framework and we have finalized a new global strategy
on TB research and innovation, that will be reviewed by the World Health Assembly.
Yet, the gains we have made are at risk – if there is any slackening of commitment and action, especially in times of crisis.
We are at a crossroads and we need to unite forces to take the path of success that will save lives and end suffering.
I was especially heartened today, to see the TB community coming together like never before. We all took our events to the virtual realm due to COVID-19 lockdowns. The WHO Online Talk Show held this afternoon, had a powerful line up of speakers that included,
TB survivors and advocates, civil society, high level government representatives, heads of agencies, researchers and partners. As of this evening we have surpassed 10,000 views on YouTube. I also participated in townhalls organized by Stop TB Partnership.
Our joint efforts have indeed ensured a continuing spotlight on those affected by TB, and clearly shows that no matter what the barrier, we can surpass it if we work together.
I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you all virtually – and recommit to champion End TB efforts till we reach the finish line.
It’s time to deliver on our promises and ensure no one is left behind.
It’s time to End TB!
Dr Tereza Kasaeva
Director
Global TB Programme
World Health Organization
In the backdrop of the global battle against COVID-19, WHO organized a special online talk show to mark World TB Day 2020. The talk show had a powerful line up of speakers from among TB survivors and advocates, civil society, high-level government representatives,
heads of agencies, researchers and partners. The video was streamed live on WHO’s Youtube channel crossing over 10,000 views in a few hours. Watch the talk show video
New WHO recommendations to prevent tuberculosis aim to save millions of lives
24 March 2020 News release
Geneva – New World Health Organization (WHO) guidance will help countries accelerate efforts to stop people with tuberculosis (TB) infection becoming sick with TB by giving them preventive treatment. A quarter of the world‘s population
is estimated to be infected with TB bacteria. These people are neither sick nor contagious. However, they are at greater risk of developing TB disease, especially those with weakened immunity. Offering them TB preventive treatment will not only protect
them from becoming sick but also cut down on the risk of transmission in the community. Read more
The full package is available below and at our World TB Day Campaign Page
The WHO Civil Society Taskforce provides a platform for meaningful engagement of civil society, building on the commitment of the Director-General, with emphasis on harnessing the untapped potential in engagement with civil society and affected communities
al all levels. To mark World TB Day 2020, the Task Force has released a Progress Review highlighting key achievements since its formation in 2018.
Access link here
WHO Global TB Programme / McMaster University
The WHO Global Tuberculosis (TB) Programme, in collaboration with McMaster University, Canada, is developing a smart platform to improve access to and use of all WHO recommendations on TB prevention and care. The WHO eTB guidelines platform will facilitate
the adoption, adaptation and implementation (“adolopment”) by countries of recommendations across the continuum of care. This digital platform will provide a variety of users – TB programme managers, healthcare workers including
nurses, researchers, patients and affected communities – with easy access to all essential information about WHO-s current policy guidance on TB.
The first set of recommendations on TB preventive treatment were released on this new platform on World TB Day.
24 March 2020 News release
Geneva – As the world comes together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to ensure that essential health services and operations are continued to protect the lives of people with TB and other diseases or health conditions. Health services,
including national programmes to combat TB, need to be actively engaged in ensuring an effective and rapid response to COVID-19 while ensuring that TB services are maintained. Read more
Ksenia Schenina
Ksenia Schenina
24 March 2020 Photo story
On World TB Day 2020, the theme – “Its time” – stresses the urgency to end the TB epidemic. TB survivor and advocate, Ksenia Schenina, talks about her struggle with the disease, the persistence of stigma and the role that remembrance can play
in fighting it. Through her TB memorial project, she aims to remember those who passed away from this terrible and ancient disease. “We do it to show what kind of people they were – what kind of things they liked, what kind of music
they listened to and what their favorite movies were; if they liked fishing or dreamt of a flight to space,” she says. Read more
To end TB, we must invest in research and innovation
24 March 2020 Commentary
If the world is to get anywhere near ending TB, a disease that killed more than 1.5 million people in 2018, something significant needs to change.
TB remains the world’s leading infectious killer and yet, in the last 50 years, only three new drugs and regimes have been developed to combat the disease. “What we need is more research and more tools in the pipeline; better diagnostics,
more effective vaccines, and safer, shorter drug regimes,” explains Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis Programme. Read more
Maria Emily C. Ballesteros
Watch this story of Emily, a nurse managing the tuberculosis (TB) program of the City Health Office in Tuguegarao City. Her dream for Tuguegarao is to one day see zero TB cases and that no one dies from this infectious disease. Nurses and healthcare workers
play a critical role in TB prevention and care. It’s time to invest in them to improve healthcare for all. We thank all the nurses, midwives and healthcare workers working to #EndTB! Watch the video
New research tool supports scale-up of digital technologies to End TB
24 March 2020 TDR news item
National anti-tuberculosis efforts are increasingly involving digital technologies, such as mobile applications to support treatment adherence and electronic surveillance systems that enable real-time monitoring of a country’s TB situation. Read more
World TB Day 2020: It’s Time for solidarity
24 March 2020 HIV/TB news item
At this unique time in history when the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes stands in solidarity with governments and communities as they seek to maintain health services
and continue to address the needs of patients suffering from HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Read more
New, shorter treatment to prevent TB to be rolled out in five high TB burden countries
24 March 2020 news item
Three-month regimen expected to prevent TB in those at highest risk of developing the disease, including people living with HIV and children under the age of five
Today, the Aurum Institute and its partners, as part of the IMPAACT4TB project, announced that five high-burden TB countries will roll out a new, shorter drug regimen (known as 3HP) to prevent TB. The announcement comes as countries around the world mark World TB Day, which takes place every year on March 24th. Countries that will initially provide the new regimen with funding from Unitaid, U.S. PEPFAR and the Global Fund include Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. More than 120,000 patient courses of 3HP will be delivered by the project to 12 countries in 2020. An additional 1 million patient courses are expected to reach low- and middle-income countries by the end of the year, through the combined support of Unitaid, Global Fund, the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) and PEPFAR. Read more
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Following the national broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, some lawyers have questioned the constitutional validity of the restriction of locomotion of people in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states. No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measures have to be spelt out in a Regulation made pursuant to section 305 of the constitution or under the Quarantine Act. Otherwise the presidential order on restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police.
Even though civil rule was restored in the country 21 years ago the psyche of the political class has not been demilitarised. Hence, decisions taken by rulers are required to be obeyed “with immediate effect” without any legal backing. But in Okafor v Governor of Lagos State (2016) LPELR-41066 (CA) the Court of Appeal called on all authorities to appreciate the need to govern the country under the rule of law. Thus, the directive of the Governor of Lagos State restricting the movement of citizens and residents during the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise was struck down because of its unconstitutionality. It was the unanimous view of their lordships that the arrest of appellant for flouting the order or directive of the governor was completely illegal. According to Georgewill , J.C.A.
“It is my view, that democracy thrives more on obeying and promoting the rule of law rather than the whims and caprices of the leaders against the lead. I find the conduct of the Respondent in not only persecuting the Appellant, yes that is what in my view it amounts to when a free citizen of this great country such as Citizen Faith Okafor, is put through the rigours of criminal process for an offence not prescribed in any written law but merely on the directive of the governor of the Lagos State. An action which if allowed to thrive in a democracy such as ours could confer on such office holders infinite, absolute and autocratic powers contrary to the clear provisions of the constitution of the land, to which both the leaders and the led are subject. I refuse to allow such autocratic, absolute and infinite powers to fester upon our nascent democracy.”
Lawyers who are saying that the law should be completely relegated to the background in combating the coronavirus pandemic reminds me of the dissenting judgment of Lord Atkins in the case of Liversidge v Anderson 1944 UKHL 1. While accusing his learned brethren of being “more executive minded than the executive”, his Lordship said inter alia:
“In England, amidst the clash of arms, the laws are not silent. They may be changed, but they speak the same language in war as in peace. It has always been one of the pillars of freedom, one of the principles of liberty for which on recent authority we are now fighting, that the judges are no respecters of persons, and stand between the subject and any attempted encroachments on his liberty by the executive, alert to see that any coercive action is justified in law.”
However. while the nation’s armed forces should be commended for making their medical facilities available to members of the public in the fight against the highly dangerous virus the plan to dispatch armed soldiers to the streets to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines should be shelved because it is illegal. For the umpteenth time, I am compelled to draw the attention of the military authorities to the case of Yussuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (Pt ) where Salami JCA (as he then was) held that “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious steps should be taken to civilianise the polity and thereby ensure the survival of and sustainance of democracy.”
In the same vein, in the celebrated case of All Progressive Congress v Peoples Democratic Party (2015) LPELR 24349 Aboki JCA held that the President lacks the power to call on the Armed Forces to restore law and order in any part of the federation without the approval of the National Assembly as provided in sections 217(2) and 218(4) of the constitution as amended. His Lordship reminded the Federal Government of its legal obligation “to confine the military to their demanding assignments especially in these trying times of insurgencies and encroachment into the country’s territories…”
Finally, just last week the satanic Boko Haram force was reported to have massacred 47 Nigerian troops and 92 Chadian soldiers in two separate attacks. In view of such enormous challenge our patriotic armed forces should concentrate efforts on the counter insurgency operations being carried out in the north east region while the police and allied security agencies are allowed to enforce the COVID-19 regulations and guidelines.
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A graphic designer in Nigeria, Jeremiah Olatinwo, has demanded compensation from Ogun State Government for using his graphics design to create awareness about Coronavirus without his permission.
Olatinwo had designed an image to raise awareness on the virus and how to stay safe from it.
He used the ‘End COVID-19 WITH SWAG’ to launch a media campaign on steps Nigerians can take to curb the spread of the virus.
He was however, left distraught when the Ogun State Government placed its official crest on it and uploaded it on its official website.
In a chat with our correspondent, Olatinwo expressed anger at the action of the state government without reaching out to him.
He said, “As a social media enthusiast and digital marketing expert, I designed a media campaign themed ‘END COVID-19 WITH SWAG’ and it was widely accepted and distributed on social media.
“I got a call from a friend who saw and also shared my creative work that the Ogun State Government had plagiarised my concept – word for word, colour for colour without giving due credit.
“To my amazement, the design was up on all social media platforms of the Ogun State Government – Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
“Due compensation is expected for the creative work and their plagiarism as the design got impressions on their page, people have seen it and some have done screenshot and shared on various platforms.”
He added that he attempted to reach out to the social media handler of the state government but was blocked.
Olatinwo tweeted the design on March 25 while the Ogun State Government tweeted the replica of the image three days later.
‘End COVID-19 with SWAG’ is a concept by me Jeremiah Olatinwo. I designed and uploaded on March 25… And @OGSGofficial plagiarised and posted today with the seal of the state. SOS pls @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo @dabiodunMFR @who @billgates @realFemiOtedola @segalink @unilagnigeria pic.twitter.com/KKQNuBWcAI
— Jeremiah Olatinwo (@BrosJayNG) March 28, 2020
The image, which has now been deleted across the social media platform of the state government, was the same concept without little adjustment to Olatinwo’s design.
Efforts by our correspondent to get the comment of the Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, was not successful as he refused to respond to calls and text messages sent to his mobile number.
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KUANTAN: The Pahang state government today announced five additional initiatives totalling RM4.25 million to help those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said through the additional initiatives, a cash assistance of RM100 and essential items worth RM50 would be handed over to 21,000 recipients in all 42 Pahang state assembly constituencies.
“The assistance involves an allocation of RM3.15 million and we will work with penghulu and village headmen to identify the eligible recipients.
“A total allocation of RM596,250 has also been set side to provide RM100 cash aid and essential items worth RM50 to 3,975 recipients from the Orang Asli community,” he said in a statement, here today.
Wan Rosdy said a sum of RM304,500 had also been approved for the distribution of 500 rice packets to the needy in all state assembly constituencies.
Besides that he said the state government had also approved a RM75,000 allocation to give out RM50 worth of essential items to 1,500 hardcore poor in the state.
Wan Rosdy also announced a RM132,400 allocation to provide RM300 cash assistance to 80 penghulu and RM200 each to the Village Community Management Council chairmen.
“I hope the assistance provided by the state government will complement the Federal Government’s efforts to help ease the burden of the people throughout the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO),” he said.
On March 23, the state government announced eight Covid-19 initiatives worth RM14.99 million.
The MCO which should have ended tomorrow has been extended to April 14. – Bernama
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Wondering why all your marketing efforts aren’t getting the results you want? It may be a lack of creativity. Juice up your marketing with these 7 tips.
7 Reasons Why You Absolutely Must Get Creative With Your
Marketing RIGHT NOW
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One of the very significant aspects of promoting and marketing business services is by creating brand awareness using promotional products. Product and promotion go together, where several ways and sources of promotion are advertising, marketing, media, magazine, etc. A good promotional product campaign involves organized efforts to make the product reach target customers, which ultimately helps to boost the product?s sales and brand value. General promo merchandise or cheap promotional gift items can provide a higher impact on targeting business sales. Before launching new products into the market, special events and shows can also be done for promotion. With advanced technology, it has become more compatible to promote your goods as custom promotional items that deliver great business recognition…
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The Action Democratic Party has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to be accountable on funds received by the state to tackle the outbreak of Coronavirus.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, in a statement on Saturday, said the public was already asking questions on where the donations and grants running into several billions were going.
He said, “As a public officer, it is important that while updates are being given to Nigerians on the efforts so far, the way and manner funds donated are used since they do not require legislative approvals before spending, should also be made known to the public.
“This has therefore necessitated the need to open a public account where citizens can access such information.
“The Lagos State Government plans to give succour and palliatives to residents is commendable but the governor should not allow those who may want to politicise it and won’t allow it get to those who genuinely need them due to stay at home order.”
Adelaja stated that while it was commendable to donate to Lagos State to contain the spread of the virus, private organisations and individuals should not forget that other states need help, too.
Commenting on the allegation against the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control not testing enough Nigerians, Adelaja said it should be investigated because if not it will underscore the entire efforts of private individuals, corporate organisations and government.
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Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has banned movement in and out of the state, SaharaReporters can confirm.
A statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, said that the ban takes effect from Sunday, March 29, 2020.
He said, “The decision to close the state’s land borders was taken as part of continued efforts by the government to protect the state from the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.
“The Commissioner of Police and the Commandant of National Security and Civil Defence Corps have been directed to ensure strict compliance.”
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