Health in DataNational Health NewsOutbreak NewsPublic HealthPublic Health NewsPublic Health Update

First Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) death reported in Nepal

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

First Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) death reported in Nepal

May 16, 2020: 21:11

The Ministry of Health and Population- Nepal has confirmed the country’s first death from COVID-19 on Saturday. Official press released by MoHP stated that 29-year-old female, a resident of Sindhupalchowk district, died due to COVID-19. This is the first death due to COVID19 in Nepal. 

MoHP Press release

MoHP Press release

 

A live repository and dash-board for COVID-19 in Nepal

COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE)

Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority COVID19 Dashboard

WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Situation dashboard

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
National Plan, Policy & GuidelinesOutbreak NewsPublic HealthResearch & Publication

MoHP Staff Mobilization Guideline

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Ministry of Health and Population :Staff Mobilization Guideline

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Staff Mobilization Guidelines 15 May 2020 Final Endorsed1 1 scaled Staff Mobilization Guidelines 15 May 2020 Final Endorsed1 2 scaled Staff Mobilization Guidelines 15 May 2020 Final Endorsed1 3 scaled Staff Mobilization Guidelines 15 May 2020 Final Endorsed1 4 scaled

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health

COVID19 Resources: Guidelines and Documents- Ministry of Health and Population 

Case Investigation and Contract Tracing Team (CICTT) Mobilization Guideline 2077

Pocket Book for Infection Prevention and Control Measures for COVID-19 in the Healthcare Setting

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
Guest PostOutbreak NewsPublic HealthResearch & Publication

10 innovative things you can do during lockdown [Public Health Students Edition]

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

10 innovative things you can do during lockdown [Public Health Students Edition]

Nirdesh Baral and Sandip Pahari

COVID-19 has been declared as pandemic by WHO at 11th March 2020. As of 15 May 2020, more than 4.53 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 307,000 deaths, it has become a threat to the human existence. (More: WHO Dashboard) The whole world is focused to mitigate this problematic situation. Nearly, all the country round the globe has imposed lockdown to restrict the mobility of their situation to reduce the transmission of the virus. Public Health practitioners are working as in-charge in community, national, sub-continental and global health to minimize health impact of COVID-19.

In this article, we will present you ten innovative ideas that you can do during lockdown. 

1. Support Lockdown and Stay at Home

As a public health student, you sure have the idea of the virus epidemiology and modes of transmission. You would already have discovered that “Lockdown” is only alternative to fight against COVID-19 pandemic in developing country as we lack enough medicinal technology and equipment to provide curative for the infected ones. Similarly, it is responsible of Public Health Students to obey this lockdown religiously and also advocate in community level maintaining social distance or digitally.

2. Bust myths and circulate facts

Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have encountered various myth heavily circulated across the social media and internet. We should be responsible and aware enough to distinguish as myth or facts. It is our duty to bust all the myths circulated across social media and create awareness among friends and family circles providing them logical and factual interpretation. Also, only message and news from verified sources such as MOHP, WHO CDC etc, should be shared. [You can take online quiz to aware yourself about myths of COVID-19 at : https://bit.ly/­34D1tmG ] 

3. Stay up-to-date about COVID-19 news.

Public Health is dynamic phenomenon; hence it is expected that a public health should be up-to-date about COVID cases and news of their nation and worldwide. Rather than only knowing the cases number, you must be able to explain trends and pattern rationally. You are also expected to know about the various strategies that countries are adopting to tackle against this pandemic.

[A live repository and dash-board for COVID-19 in Nepal, WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Situation dashboard, Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority COVID19 Dashboard, COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE)]

4. Attend/Organize Awareness Competition

We all are aware that education spreads through interaction. If you are part of some organization and clubs you can organize various art/poster/quiz/painting/song/poem competition targeting different audience spreading positive vibes in this lockdown. For instance, Climate Action, TB Free World, Digital Studios have organized various competition for COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the competition award certificates, prizes while some offer E-certificates. Also, as a Public Health it is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and skill in these competitions and improve and learn something new during this period.

5. Learn new software

With this growing age of technology, tools and techniques for Public health has also been digitalized. Various extension, modules, programs, software are available both freely and paid available on internet. In this era, most popular software include Epidata, Epiinfo,ODK collect, Kobo Collect etc. Similarly, data processing software include SPSS ,Epi-info, R, ODK Aggregate,Epidata Analysis etc. In this pandemic, WHO have introduced GO-DATA with GOHRAN as best epidemiological tool to collect data during outbreak. It contains wide range of graphs to visualize epidemiological details.GO-Data is a must learn app for you.

6. Enroll Yourself

A concept of open university has been already popular in western countries. Without restriction of the geographical boundaries you can enroll yourself to various courses offered by the top universities and organization around the globe. Open WHO, Harvard Online Courses, Coursera etc are offering various online courses where you can enroll for free and gain top-class education from top lectures and get new insights over public health. (Recommended Online Courses for Public Health Students)

7. Critical Review of COVID-19 guidelines

Various health organization and government along are releasing new guidelines to tackle about the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the guidelines include Updated Testing Guidelines for COVID-19, Instant Hand Sanitizer Standard 2076, COVID-19 Resources(Guidelines, SOPs,Recording,Reporting formats, Interim Guideline for the establishment and Operationalization of molecular Laboratory for COVID-19 testing in Nepal, etc. As a public health student, you are expected to be aware about these national policies and critically review these guidelines and interpret rationally.

8. Study your course material

COVID-19 pandemic has postponed our exam schedule. As a student, you are expected to invest at least one quarter of day in learning. Studying should be continuous but not limited to course material. Along with the course, you could educate yourself about various health phenomenon and features. The continuous habit of studying will surely aid for your exam preparation.

9. Write Instant Articles

You could utilize your lockdown period by writing various articles based on your interest sharing your opinions and knowledge. Similarly, you can freelance as content writer or blog writer to gain extra income. Most of the website offer as low of $3 per article but vary according to quality and issue of articles. Along with income, article writing also make you professionally proficient in proposal and report writing.

10. Develop Proposal and EOI

Various donor agencies and NGO’s want to observe various health phenomenon and health determinants after lockdown. Hence, various research opportunities will rise up after lockdown. So it will be better to be prepared for grabbing such opportunities.

11. [Bonus] Burn extra calories

A lot of us will surely curl up to bed and stay lazy. It will be productive if you plan to do ruthless workout at least 30 min/day breaking your comfort zone and setting new boundaries. A wide-range of workout schedule could be found on internet as per your body type. Similarly, workout will sustain your body appearance and make you healthy both physically and mentally.

Nirdesh Baral, 7th Sem BPH Student, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Email: nirdesh8@gmail.com, Cell No. +977-9816138346

Sandip Pahari, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Email: sp.mph15@gmail.com, Cell No. +977-9846261237

READ MORE : GUEST POSTS

Want to submit an article?

Send us your articles tomail4sagun@gmail.comwith your name and photo. Public Health Update encourages public health students and professionals to submit views and voices.

Opportunities and Challenges in Education due to COVID-19

COVID-19 and Health Facts: Immunity boosting foods and right eating pattern

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the Economy

The Situation of Country after COVID-19 | Moiz Khan

A state of Dual Pandemic: COVID-19 & Falsified Products
Digital advocacy in context of COVID-19 | Rashmi Acharya

The science of hand sanitizers

Tips for staying healthy in lockdown | Anushree Acharya

Digital advocacy in context of COVID-19 | Rashmi Acharya

Follow us on Social Media Networks

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
International Plan, Policy & GuidelinesNon- Communicable Diseases (NCDs)Public HealthResearch & Publication

Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health

To minimize the mental health consequences of the pandemic, it is important to consider urgently the following three recommended actions:

Apply a whole-of-society approach

To promote, protect and care for Mental health Mental health actions need to be considered essential components of the national response to COVID-19. A whole-of-society approach for mental health in COVID-19 means:

  • including mental health and psychosocial considerations in national response plans across relevant sectors, for example supporting learning and nurturing environments for children and young people who are confined at home;
  • responding proactively to reducing pandemic-related adversities that are known to harm mental health, for example domestic violence and acute impoverishment; and crafting all communications to be sensitive of their potential impact on people’s mental health, for example by communicating empathy for people’s distress and including advice for their emotional well-being.

Ensure widespread availability of emergency mental health and psychosocial support

Mental health and psychosocial support must be available in any emergency. Achieving this objective during the COVID-19 pandemic means:

  • supporting community actions that strengthen social cohesion and reduce loneliness, for example supporting activities that help isolated older adults stay connected;
  • investing in mental health interventions that can be delivered remotely, for example quality-assured tele-counselling for frontline health-care workers and people at home with depression and anxiety;
  • ensuring uninterrupted in-person care for severe mental health conditions by formally defining such care as essential services to be continued throughout the pandemic; and
  • protecting and promoting the human rights of people with severe mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, for example, by monitoring whether they have equal access to care for COVID-19

Support recovery from covid-19 by building mental health services for the future

All affected communities will need quality mental health services to support society’s recovery from COVID-19, and this requires investment in the following:

  • using the current momentum of interest in mental health to catalyze mental health reforms, for example by developing and funding the implementation of national services re-organization strategies that shift care away from institutions to community services;
  • making sure that mental health is part of universal health coverage, for example by including care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in health care benefit packages and insurance schemes;
  • building human resource capacity to deliver mental health and social care, for example among community workers so that they can provide support; and organizing community-based services that protect and promote people’s human rights, for example by involving people with lived experience in the design, implementation and monitoring of services.

Rapid implementation of these recommended actions will be essential to ensure people and societies are better protected from the mental health impact of COVID-19.

DOWNLOAD POLICY BRIEF

Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak

Develop and implement strategies to prevent suicide and promote mental health

World Mental Health Day 2019: A day for ”40 seconds of action”

World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the SDGs

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
Guest PostPublic HealthResearch & Publication

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic in Daily Life of Nepalese People

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic in Daily Life of Nepalese People

Anish Lamichhane

COVID- 19 [Previously known as ‘Novel Coronavirus’] has affected day to day life and is slowing down the global economy. This pandemic has affected thousands of peoples, who are either sick are or being killed due to the spread of this disease. The common viral symptoms of this viral infection are fever, cold cough, bone pain and breathing problems, and ultimately leading to pneumonia. This, being a new viral disease affecting humans for the first time, vaccines are not yet available. Thus the emphasis is on taking extensive precautions such as extensive hygiene protocol (e.g., regular hand washing, avoidance of face to face interaction etc.), social distancing and wearing of masks, and so on. This virus is spreading exponentially region wise. Countries are banning gathering of people to the spread and break the exponential curve. Many countries are looking their population and enforcing strict quarantine to control the spread of the havoc of this highly communicable disease.

Global Status of COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Total Infections: 4,440,989
  • Deaths: 302,376
  • Recovered: 1,587,780
  • Active Cases: 2,550,833 [12:20 PM, 15 th May , 2020]

National Status of COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Total Infections 258
  • Deaths :0
  • Recovered : 35
  • Active Cases: 223 [12:20 PM, 15 th May , 2020]

COVID-19 has rapidly affected our day to day life, businesses, disrupted the world trade and movements. Identification of this disease at an early stage is vital to control the spread of the virus because it very rapidly spreads from person to person. Most of the countries have slowed down their manufacturing of the products. The various industries and sectors are affected by the cause of this disease; these include the pharmaceutical industry, solar power section, tourism, information and electronics industry. This virus creates significant knock-on effects on the daily life of citizens, as well as about the global economy.

Presently the impacts of COVID-19 in daily life are extensive and have far reaching consequences. These can be divided in to various categories:

A. Healthcare:

  • Challenges in the diagnosis, quarantine and treatment of suspected or confirmed cases
  • High burden of the functioning of the existing medical system
  • Patients with other disease and health problems are getting neglected
  • Overload on doctors and other healthcare professionals, who are at very high risk
  • Overloading of medical shops
  • Requirement for high protection
  • Disruption of medical supply chain

B. Economic:

  • Slowing of the manufacturing of essential goods
  • Disrupt the supply chain of products
  • Losses in national and international business
  • Poor cash flow in the market
  • Significant slowing down in the revenue growth

C. Social:

  • Service sector is not being able to provide their proper service
  • Cancellation or postponement of large-scale sports and tournaments
  • Avoiding the national and international travelling
  • Disruption of celebration of culture, religious and festive events
  • Undue stress among the population
  • Social distancing with our peers and family members
  • Closure of the hotels, restaurants and religious places
  • Closure of the places for entertainment such as movie and play theatres, sports club, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and so on
  • Postponement of examinations

This COVID-19 has affected the sources of supply and affects the global economy. There are restrictions of travelling from one country to another country. During travelling numbers of cases are identified positive when tested, especially when they are taking internationals visits. All governments, health organizations and other authorities are continuously focusing on identifying the cases affected by the COVID-19. Healthcare professional face lots of difficulties in maintain the quality of healthcare in these days.

Source of information

  • Huang C,Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):497e506.
  • Wang M, Cao R, Zhang L, et al. Remdesivir and chloroquine effectively inhibit the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in vitro. Cell Res. 2020;30(3): 269e271.
  • Jin YH, Cai L, Cheng ZS, et al. A rapid advice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected pneumonia (standard version). Mil Med Res. 2020;7(1):4.
  • Campbell D, Bannock. ‘Unlike Anything Seen in Peacetime’: NHS Prepares for Surge in Covid-19 Cases; 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/ unlike- anything-seen-in-peacetime-nhs-prepares-for-surge-in-covid 19-coronavirus- cases.
  • Chinazzi M, Davis JT, Ajelli M, et al. The effect of travel restrictions on the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak. Science. 2020. https:// doi.org/10.1126/science.aba9757.
Anish Lamichhane, BPH, 7th Semester, Central Institute of Science and Technology (CIST)

READ MORE : GUEST POSTS

Want to submit an article?

Send us your articles tomail4sagun@gmail.com with your name and photo. Public Health Update encourages public health students and professionals to submit views and voices.

Opportunities and Challenges in Education due to COVID-19

COVID-19 and Health Facts: Immunity boosting foods and right eating pattern

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the Economy

The Situation of Country after COVID-19 | Moiz Khan

A state of Dual Pandemic: COVID-19 & Falsified Products
Digital advocacy in context of COVID-19 | Rashmi Acharya

The science of hand sanitizers

Tips for staying healthy in lockdown | Anushree Acharya

Digital advocacy in context of COVID-19 | Rashmi Acharya

Follow us on Social Media Networks

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
National Health NewsNational Plan, Policy & GuidelinesPublic HealthPublic Health NewsPublic Health ProgramsResearch & Publication

Nepal Government’s programmes and policies for fiscal year 2077/78 (Health Sector)

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Nepal Government’s programmes and policies for fiscal year 2077/78 (Health Sector)

Recommended: National Health Policy 2076- MoHP

आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष२०७७ 1 scaled

आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष२०७७ 2 scaled

आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष२०७७ 3 scaled

आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष२०७७ 4 scaled

आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष२०७७ 5 scaled

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

National Health Policy 2076- MoHP

World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the SDGs

WHO: People living longer and healthier lives but COVID-19 threatens to throw progress off track

Follow us on Social Media Networks

3 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
International Plan, Policy & GuidelinesPublic HealthReportsResearch & PublicationSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Universal Health Coverage

World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the SDGs

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the SDGs

The World Health Statistics 2020 summarizes recent trends in life expectancy and reports on progress towards the main health and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets. It also assesses the current availability of those data, and describes how WHO is supporting countries to improve health information systems and global health security. The 2020 edition also includes four indicators (relating to poliomyelitis, hypertension and obesity in adults and school age children) from the Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019−2023 (GPW13).

Key Messages

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant loss of lives, disrupted livelihoods and undermined well-being throughout the world. The COVID-19 crises have underscored how unprepared most health systems were and the negative impact this can have towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). These is an urgency to invest in health systems, services and workforce. The 2030 Agenda is a powerful accountability mechanism for the world. It is now more critical than ever to take stock of the lessons learned and progress made in improving population health, and more importantly, to identify and address the gaps that persist where progress is not on track. World Health Statistics 2020 sheds light on the progress towards relevant SDGs and their implications in the midst of the current COVID-19 emergency.

The report highlights the need to track population health and its determinants in a comprehensive and continuous manner. This report’s key messages are presented below;

  1. The world population is not only living longer but living healthier
  2. The overall improvements in health move along the fault lines created by inequalities and echo the status and the progress made towards universal health coverage
  3. Compared with the advances against communicable diseases, there has been inadequate progress in preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases
  4. Investing in strengthening country health information systems to improve timeliness of data could have the greatest positive impact and is vital for countries to monitor progress towards SDGs
  5. Current rate of progress falls short and COVID-19 further risks getting the world off track to achieve SDGs.

Inside this report;

  • Page 2: Major gains in life expectancy in low-income countries (Progress on average life expectancy at birth by 5.5 years globally between 2000 and 2016: from 66.5 to 72.0 years)
  • Page 3: The service coverage index improved from 45 globally in 2000 to 66 in 2017, with the strongest increase in low and lower-middle-income countries)
  • Page 3: Overall, between one third and one half the world’s population (33% to 49%) was covered by essential health services in 2017.
  • Page 4: The proportion of the global population spending more than 10% of household budgets on health care reached 12.7% in 2015, up from 9.4% in 2000 and equivalent to about 927 million people. The proportion of the population spending more than 25% of household budgets on health care reached almost 3% in 2015, up from 1.7% in 2000. 
  • Page 6: Maternal mortality has declined but progress is uneven across regions
  • Page 7: There has been significant progress in under-five and neonatal mortality, and deaths are now concentrated in specific regions and countries
  • Page 8: Globally in 2019, about 21.3% of children under 5 years of age were stunted, approximately 144.0 million children under 5 years worldwide suffered from stunting, 6.9% under 5 years of age globally suffered from wasting in 2019.
  • Page 8: Steady progress is being made against major infectious diseases, but stronger efforts are needed to bring the SDG targets within closer reach.
  • Page 12: An estimated 41 million people worldwide died of NCDs, equivalent to 71% of all deaths. 
  • Page 16: Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health.
  • Page 16: An estimated 478 000 people were killed in homicides globally in 2017.
  • Page 16: Violence against women (VAW) is common worldwide and is associated with numerous, serious health problems for women and their children.
  • Page 16: There were almost 800 000 suicide deaths globally in 2016.
  • Page 17: The overall mortality rate due to road traffic injuries has stayed fairly constant between 2000 and 2016, at around 18 deaths per 100 000 population in 2016.

READ MORE: KEY MESSAGES AND SECTION 1-6

MORE INFORMATION: WHO
Read the full report
Browse a visual summary of the World Health Statistics
Read the press release
Browse the World health statistics data dashboard

Follow us on Social Media Networks

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
Global Health NewsInternational Plan, Policy & GuidelinesPublic HealthPublic Health NewsReportsResearch & PublicationSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

WHO: People living longer and healthier lives but COVID-19 threatens to throw progress off track

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

WHO: People living longer and healthier lives but COVID-19 threatens to throw progress off track

13 May 2020
News release
Geneva

All over the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant loss of life, disrupting livelihoods, and threatening the recent advances in health and progress towards global development goals highlighted in the 2020 World Health Statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO) today.
“The good news is that people around the world are living longer and healthier lives. The bad news is the rate of progress is too slow to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and will be further thrown off track by COVID-19,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.“The pandemic highlights the urgent need for all countries to invest in strong health systems and primary health care, as the best defense against outbreaks like COVID-19, and against the many other health threats that people around the world face every day. Health systems and health security are two sides of the same coin.”WHO’s World Health Statistics — an annual check-up on the world’s health — reports progress against a series of key health and health service indicators, revealing some important lessons in terms of progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals and gaps to fill.

Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy have increased, but unequally.

The biggest gains were reported in low-income countries, which saw life expectancy rise 21% or 11 years between 2000 and 2016 (compared with an increase of 4% or 3 years in higher income countries).

One driver of progress in lower-income countries was improved access to services to prevent and treat HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as a

number of neglected tropical diseases such as guinea worm. Another was better maternal and child healthcare, which led to a halving of child mortality between 2000 and 2018.

But in a number of areas, progress has been stalling. Immunization coverage has barely increased in recent years, and there are fears that malaria gains may be reversed. And there is an overall shortage of services within and outside the health system to prevent and treat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung disease, and stroke. In 2016, 71 per cent of all deaths worldwide were attributable to NCDs, with the majority of the 15 million premature deaths (85%) occurring in low and middle-income countries.

This uneven progress broadly mirrors inequalities in access to quality health services. Only between one third and one half the world’s population was able to obtain essential health services in 2017. Service coverage in low- and middle-income countries remains well below coverage in wealthier ones; as do health workforce densities. In more than 40% of all countries, there are fewer than 10 medical doctors per 10 000 people. Over 55% of countries have fewer than 40 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10 000 people. 

The inability to pay for healthcare is another major challenge for many. On current trends, WHO estimates that this year, 2020, approximately 1 billion people (almost 13 per cent of the global population) will be spending at least 10% of their household budgets on health care. The majority of these people live in lower middle-income countries.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to protect people from health emergencies, as well as to promote universal health coverage and healthier populations to keep people from needing health services through multisecotral interventions like improving basic hygiene and sanitation,” said Dr Samira Asma, Assistant Director General at WHO.

In 2017, more than half (55%) of the global population was estimated to lack access to safely-managed sanitation services, and more than one quarter (29%) lacked safely-managed drinking water. In the same year, two in five households globally (40%) lacked basic handwashing facilities with soap and water in their home. 

The World Health Statistics also highlight the need for stronger data and health information systems. Uneven capacities to collect and use accurate, timely, and comparable health statistics, undermining countries’ ability to understand population health trends, develop appropriate policies, allocate resources and prioritize interventions. 

For almost a fifth of countries, over half of the key indicators have no recent primary or direct underlying data, another major challenge in enabling countries to prepare for, prevent and respond to health emergencies such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. WHO is therefore supporting countries in strengthening surveillance and data and health information systems so they can measure their status and manage improvements.  

“The message from this report is clear: as the world battles the most serious pandemic in 100 years, just a decade away from the SDG deadline, we must act together to strengthen primary health care and focus on the most vulnerable among us in order to eliminate the gross inequalities that dictate who lives a long, healthy life and who doesn’t,” added Asma. “We will only succeed in doing this by helping countries to improve their data and health information systems.” 

WHO PRESS RELEASE 

Follow us on Social Media Networks

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
Guest PostOutbreak NewsResearch & Publication

Opportunities and Challenges in Education due to COVID-19

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Opportunities and Challenges in Education due to COVID-19

Yeshoda KC

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with nearly four million confirmed cases and 298,202 deaths in 212 territories. The pandemic has affected educational systems worldwide, leading to the near-total closures of schools, universities and colleges. We are living amidst what is potentially one of the greatest threats in our lifetime to global education, a gigantic educational crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic have shed a light on numerous issues affecting access to education, as well as broader socio economic issues. More than 370 million children and youth are not attending school because of temporary or indefinite country wide school closures mandated by governments in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Starting the school year late or interrupting it completely disrupts the lives of many children, their parents, and teachers. As a result, there is distinctive rise of e-learning (online learning), whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital
platforms. With this sudden shift away from the classroom in many parts of the globe, some are wondering whether the adoption of online learning will continue to persist post-pandemic, and how such a shift would impact the worldwide education market. But only developed countries are better prepared to move to online learning strategies, with a lot of effort and challenges for teachers and parents. In middle-income and poorer countries, the situation is very mixed and if we do not act appropriately, the vast inequality of opportunities may arise between developed and low income nations. Many children do not have a desk, books, internet connectivity, a laptop at home, or supportive parents in low income and poorer
nations.

Opportunities

Some countries will be able to increase their teachers’ digital skills. Radio and TV stations will recognize their key role in supporting national education goals and hopefully, improve the quality of their programming understanding their immense social responsibility. Parents will be more involved in their children’s education process, and ministries of education will have a much clearer understanding of the gaps and challenges (in connectivity, hardware, integration of digital tools in the curriculum, teacher’s readiness) that exist in using technology effectively and act upon that. All of this can strengthen the future education system in a country.

  • We know that the more engaging learning styles are ones that are more interactive, and that face-to-face learning is better than 100 percent online learning. We also know blended learning can draw on the best of both worlds and create a better learning experience than one hundred percent face-to-face learning. Thus, blended learning approaches will be tried, tested and increasingly used.
  • Quality teaching and learning materials will be better curated and more widely used as educators are looking to other educators as well as trusted sources to help curate high-quality online learning tools.
  • Teachers collaboration will grow and help improve learning.
  • This crisis will help us come together across boundaries. I think its an opportunity for the education sector to unite, forge connections across countries and continents, and truly share what works in a global way.

Challenges

As the global coronavirus pandemic opens up an entirely new set of challenges for the education system, we’re seeing just how important it is to build a more adaptable and inclusive approach to learning.  Maintaining the engagement of children, particularly young secondary school students is critical. Dropout rates are still very high in many countries, and a long period of disengagement can result in a further increase. Going to school is not only about learning math and science, but also about social relationships and peer-to-peer interactions. It is about learning to be a citizen and developing social skills. That is why it is important to stay connected with the school by any means necessary. For all students, this is also a time to develop socio-emotional skills and learn more about how to contribute to society as a citizen. The role of parents and family, which has always been extremely important, is critical in that task. So, a lot of the help that ministries of education provide, working through mass media, should also go to parents. Radio, TV, SMS messages can all be used to provide tips and advice to them on how to better support their children.

The mission of all education systems is the same. It is to overcome the learning crisis we were already living and respond to the pandemic we are all facing. The challenge today is to reduce as much as possible the negative impact this pandemic will have on learning and schooling and build on this experience to get back on a path of faster improvement in learning. As education systems cope with this crisis, they must also be thinking of how they can recover stronger, with a renewed sense of responsibility of all actors and with a better understanding and sense of urgency of the need to close the gap in opportunities and assuring that all children have the same chances for a quality education.

Yeshoda KC, 7th semester BPH student, School of Health and Allied Sciences Email: yeshodakc37@gmail.com

READ MORE : GUEST POSTS

Want to submit an article?

Send us your articles to mail4sagun@gmail.com with your name and photo. Public Health Update encourages public health students and professionals to submit views and voices.

COVID-19 and Health Facts: Immunity boosting foods and right eating pattern

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the Economy

The Situation of Country after COVID-19 | Moiz Khan

A state of Dual Pandemic: COVID-19 & Falsified Products
Digital advocacy in context of COVID-19 | Rashmi Acharya

The science of hand sanitizers

Tips for staying healthy in lockdown | Anushree Acharya

Digital advocacy in context of COVID-19 | Rashmi Acharya

Follow us on Social Media Networks

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
Public Health

Technical Officer- Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF)

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Technical Officer- Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF)

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an international humanitarian organization committed to ending child hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, Action Against Hunger saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. With more than 40 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, Action Against Hunger runs life-saving programmes in over 45 countries benefitting seven million people each year. With head offices in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger. Every year, our 7,500+ field workers help over 21 million people in over 45 countries worldwide.

As a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious organization, we are committed to principled humanitarian action as outlined in our International Charter of Principles: independence, neutrality, non-discrimination, free and direct access to affected populations, professionalism and transparency.

Position: Technical Officer

Vacancy Ref: ACFNNHBATO
Contract Type: Fixed short Term Contract (Subject to grant approval)
Project Area: Banke, Bara, Dhanusa, Rautahat, Jumla, and Kalikot
Number of positions: several
Please note that this position is contingent upon funding. 

 

Main Responsibilities

  • Conduct screening of under five years children and support in recruiting Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children in the district 
  • Provide technical support and on-the-job training to Health Workers and Community Health Volunteers in screening and proper recording and reporting of children under five years 
  • Coordinate, communicate and establish linkages with the local partner 
  • Conduct Social and Behaviour Change Communication-related activities 
  • Lead in support functions at the district level 
  • Represent Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF)  in the project related meetings, forums etc. in the district

Qualifications & Required Skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree with two (2) years of experience in public health, nutrition, development studies, nutrition and dietetics, social science or relevant discipline
  • Significant experiences in Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) / Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) programme and / Nutrition in Emergency (NiE) required 
  • Sound knowledge and experience in using Open Data Kit (ODK) preferred
  • Excellent interpersonal, networking, negotiation and communication skills
  • Excellent standard of written and spoken Nepali and English language 
  • Strong presentation skills
  • Good computer skills including Microsoft office package
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
  • Highly organized with a strong attention to detail
  • Training/ capacity-building skills
  • Thorough understanding of gender and social inclusion issues
  • Ability to work in diverse team and environment with short deadlines and intense pressure.
  • Good knowledge and understanding of local language is preferred
Applying Procedure

Interested Nepali applicants with suitable skills are requested to submit a motivation letter, updated CV with two referees through email: recruitment@np-actionagainsthunger.org by 19th May 2020 by 5 pm Nepal time. 

The Vacancy Reference (ACFNNHBATO) must be mentioned in the email subject otherwise the application will be disqualified. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process. Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) reserves the right to reject any or all applications. Telephonic enquiries will not be entertained.

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people with disabilities and members from disadvantaged /underrepresented ethnic groups.

MEROJOB.COM

Case Investigation and Contract Tracing Team (CICTT) Mobilization Guideline 2077

Pocket Book for Infection Prevention and Control Measures for COVID-19 in the Healthcare Setting

International Nurses Day: Nurses: A voice to lead-Nursing the World to Health

Real Time Monitoring (RTM) COVID-19 Support Contractor – UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia

Follow us on Social Media Networks for regular updates

 Play Store: Public Health Info
Google News Profile: Public Health Update
Facebook Profile Sagun Paudel [5000 Friends & 6,100+ Followers]
Facebook Page

Facebook Groups

Twitter

LinkedIn

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrVKOdnoklassnikiRedditStumbleuponWhatsappTelegramLINEPocketSkypeViberEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Public Health Initiative, A Registered Non-profit organization – All Right Reserved. 2011-2023