The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has urged countries in the region to ensure that health care workers have access to the personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies they need to care for patients affected by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
A release from PAHO on Tuesday noted that on the occasion of World Health Day, Director Carissa F. Etienne stressed that “shortages of the most basic protective equipment leave doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously vulnerable as they care for COVID-19 patients.”
Over the last week cases of COVID-19 have doubled.
Etienne acknowledged this development and told a press briefing that “the pandemic is accelerating rapidly.”
She has urged governments to prepare and respond at the same speed including following PAHO guidelines and recommendations on social distancing measures to lessen the burden on health systems.
“All of us need to be prepared for more difficult weeks ahead… A pandemic like COVID-19 would overwhelm any health system, but its impact on those without sufficient health workers will be devastating” she stressed.
Noting that limited supplies of gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles and gowns can lead to a wave of preventable infections among health workers, Etienne called for countries to work together to ensure that supply chains are able to deliver protective equipment to the hospitals and health centres who need it most.
“Solidarity and coordination among countries will be essential to ensure we make the most of the limited supplies available,” she added.
World Health Day according to the Director is “a time to acknowledge and celebrate doctors, nurses, midwives and the many other people working to keep our communities healthy. Our health workers deserve our recognition, our praise and our gratitude. Above all, they deserve to be able to protect themselves while they do their jobs.”
In an apparent criticism of the actions of the United States government, Etienne stressed that now is not the time to hoard and stockpile.
“It is a time for easing export restrictions and embracing flexible regulations that enable access in the places that will be hardest hit in the next few weeks. Governments and the private sector should also seek innovative solutions to boost production and repurpose industrial capacity to expand supplies,” she said.
Also required is “care for health workers through support networks that allow them to preserve their mental and physical health.”
“We must celebrate them for the heroes they are and protect them from stigma. We should encourage and admire our health workers, not fear and disrespect them,” Etienne said.
The Organization which works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of the population has so far developed technical guidelines for addressing the disease as well as trained national staff on the reorganization of health services.
They have also advised countries regarding stocks of medical supplies and personal protection equipment and supported countries to obtain shipments of PPEs to 35 countries and 1 territory, and COVID test kits to 25 countries, among other actions.
