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LETTER TO EDITOR
Year : 2021  |  Volume : 34  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 1200-1201

The World Health Organization leads the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic


1 Medical Education Unit Coordinator and Member of the Institute Research Council, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Submission10-Apr-2020
Date of Decision05-May-2020
Date of Acceptance16-May-2020
Date of Web Publication18-Oct-2021

Correspondence Address:
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava
Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) – Deemed to be University, Thiruporur - Guduvancherry Main Road, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District - 603 108, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/mmj.mmj_125_20

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How to cite this article:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. The World Health Organization leads the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Menoufia Med J 2021;34:1200-1

How to cite this URL:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. The World Health Organization leads the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Menoufia Med J [serial online] 2021 [cited 2024 Mar 28];34:1200-1. Available from: http://www.mmj.eg.net/text.asp?2021/34/3/1200/328292




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Dear Editor,

It has been 100 days since the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in China, and since then, the disease has attained the status of a public health emergency of international concerns and subsequently was declared as a pandemic. In these days, 1 436 198 cases and 85 522 deaths have been reported across the 212 affected nations and territories [1]. All the regions of the world have been affected, with the European region being the most affected, as it alone has accounted for 52.9% of cases and 72% of the reported deaths [1]. The global case fatality rate has gradually increased to 5.9%, with the risk of development of serious forms of the disease among elderly and those individuals with preexisting illnesses [1].

To prepare the nations for the potential emergence of the outbreak within their settings and to enhance the emergency response of the nations to the novel viral infection, the WHO has been in the forefront and has guided every nation through its sustained efforts [2]. Right from the start, assistance has been offered to the nations to improve their overall capacity to prepare and respond through the regional offices. In fact, a comprehensive strategic preparedness and response plan document was developed to give a direction to the national leaders, which also specified about the list of resources required to fight the disease [2],[3]. As it is quite obvious that all these activities cannot be intensified without financial assistance and thus generated more than US$800 million.

The next area of interest has been responding to the problem of infodemic, as being a novel infection, a lot of misinformation, myths, and wrong facts started to circulate in various forms of media [4]. It was crucial to address this aspect of the outbreak, as any shortcomings in this regard would have flared up a lot of stress, anxiety, and fear among the different sections of the society. Realizing the need, the WHO came out with more than 50 interim guidance targeting different stakeholders with the help of their support staff (epidemiologists, clinicians, virologists, etc.), all with an aim to reduce the spread of the disease and to bridge the gap in the knowledge about the disease [2],[3],[4].

Moreover, steps were taken to ensure that precise estimates of the disease and its distribution are informed to the general public and the political leaders through the daily situation reports, and it was ensured through a universal surveillance system mechanism. Furthermore, different stakeholders or channels (Facebook, Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Football International Association, etc.) were also roped in the mission to spread the right information to their various users or to maintain personal hygiene and physical activity during the periods of lockdown imposed by some of the national governments [4]. As the health workers have been the first line of defense against the disease and the challenge of shortage of personal protective equipment has surfaced owing to the sudden rise in the number of cases worldwide, the WHO has prioritized the concern and has been involved in shipping the equipment and diagnostic kits to different nations based on their needs and caseload [5].

There are no doubts that for the successful containment of the infection, the health workers have to be mobilized and trained about the different aspects of the disease. It is indeed an encouraging fact that in excess of 1.2 million people have enrolled in the various online courses and thus improving their level of understanding and competence [2]. In fact, a series of training sessions have also been organized for health workers to improve their approach and areas that need to be prioritized [6]. Finally, being a novel infection, there are lots of uncertainties and gaps in our knowledge about the epidemiological, virological, and clinical spectrum of the disease, and thus, there is an immense need to accelerate the research and development activities. The initiatives in this area include starting of a solidarity trial to identify an effective drug, collaboration with international agencies to develop rapid diagnostics, and expedition of efforts for the development of the vaccine [2],[4].

In conclusion, the WHO has been working continuously with the member states, national leaders, and international partners to effectively respond to the novel viral infection and thus minimize the loss of human lives and the burden on the health care delivery system.

Acknowledgements

Saurabh R. Shrivastava contributed in the conception and design of the work, drafting of the work, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed toward all aspects of the work. Prateek S. Shrivastava contributed in the literature review, revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed toward all aspects of the work.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report – 80; 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200409-sitrep-80-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=1b685d64_2. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 10].  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
World Health Organization. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19-8 April 2020; 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-re marks-at-the-media-briefin g-on-covid-19--8-april-2020. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 10].  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
World Health Organization. 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): strategic preparedness and response plan. Geneva: WHO Press; 2020. 1–20.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
IFRC, UNICEF, WHO. RCCE action plan guidance – COVID-19 preparedness and response. Geneva: WHO Press; 2020. 2–24.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
World Health Organization. Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages – interim guidance. Geneva: WHO Press; 2020. 1–21.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Al Nsour M, Bashier H, Al Serouri A, Malik E, Khader Y, Saeed K, et al. The role of the Global Health Development/Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network and the Eastern Mediterranean field epidemiology training programs in preparedness for COVID-19. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2020; 6:e18503.  Back to cited text no. 6
    




 

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