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Scholarships for African Students at the University of Oxford

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Scholarships for African Students at the University of Oxford

Here is the selection of some of the scholarships available to African students at the University of Oxford. For a more complete and up to date list of available scholarships, visit the University of Oxford Fees, Funding and Scholarships page.

Undergraduate Scholarships

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Guest PostOutbreak NewsResearch & Publication

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the Economy

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the Economy

Asbin Ghimire and Sandip Pahari

Many things said and heard recently about the newly emerged Coronavirus. It is an infectious disease also known as COVID-19 caused by Coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the first outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is now emerged as a pandemic affecting 210 countries globally. Till date around 3.58 Million cases were confirmed and 251 thousands people have died due to the disease.

Recommended: COVID-19 fallout could push half a billion people into poverty in developing countries

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is likely to have long-lasting economic and social impacts of global proportions stemming from the direct and indirect effects of illness, the preventive behaviors of people and the transmission control policies of governments. Specifically, GDP projections have already been revised downward for most regions and countries, driven by shocks to both domestic demand and supply and sharp declines in the circulation of goods and services. During the first few months of the outbreak, governments around the world have been correctly focused on managing the spread of the disease, relying in many cases on stringent transmission control measures without placing a high weight on the current and future economic costs of these measures. As it becomes clear that the economic and social costs of the outbreak will be significant, governments are increasingly turning their attention to a broader set of policy interventions that can help mitigate such costs.

According to US Bureau of Labour more than 3.8 million people in US have filed for unemployment benefits in last six week. Similarly close to one million people in UK also applied for benefits in just two week at the end of March. Oil price drop at $ 20.59 per Barrel which was the lowest price of oil at 21 year. According to estimates from the International Labour Organization, nearly 25 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of the pandemic. In March, the OECD cut its forecast for global economic growth in 2020 from 2.9 percent to 2.4 percent, which would be the lowest level since the financial crisis a decade ago, warning that a prolonged and more intensive coronavirus epidemic could even halve this figure to a mere 1.5 percent.

To prevent the spread of virus, Nepal government had started the trend of lockdown from March 18th to till date. Nepal’s economy cannot remain isolated from domestic and global measures adopted to prevent the spread of coronavirus which will result on the hotel and restaurant, manufacturing and transportation sectors witnessing negative growth of 16.3 per cent, 1.1 per cent and 2.26 per cent respectively, in the current fiscal year. Along with the tourism and transportation sectors, the remittance sector is expected to be the worst hit by the pandemic according to CBS. The Bureau has projected that remittance share of the GDP will fall to 19.01 per cent in the current fiscal year. It will be the first time that its share has been dropped below 20 per cent of the GDP since fiscal year 2010-11. According to Bureau these projections have been made estimating extreme losses in the hotel, restaurant and international transportation sectors till the end of this fiscal year, while other sectors are expected to gradually resume from mid of May.

Nepal is also looking at a severe employment crisis as millions of Nepalese who are currently working in foreign lands return home after losing jobs as economies around the world go into recession. Over 1.5 million Nepalese are estimated to be working in Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait while 3 to 4 million Nepalese are estimated to be living and working in India, according to the Migration in Nepal Report prepared by the International Organization for Migration. At least 600,000 to 700,000 Nepalese are expected to return due to reduced job opportunities in abroad, as per an initial estimate by Department of Labor. As a result the inflow of remittance is expected to decrease by Rs 163 billion on this year. All of these economical activities dragged down the Nepal economic growth to four year low of 2.27 % in current fiscal year. CBS has projected the country’s per capita income to grow to $1,085 or Rs 127,466 this fiscal from $1,039 or Rs 118,623 in fiscal 2018-19. This may result in increasing on poverty rate which may last for several year.

The current concern is not only on managing the escalating cases and deaths of COVID-19 infected people but also planning for how to sustain the severely shrunk global economy. Many rich nations are projecting and adopting numerous measures to control the huge downfall of their country’s economy whereas Nepal is webbed with its never lasting game of political and social unrests. Even in this phase of doom, if we aren’t cognizant then not even god can save Nepal’s economy from collapsing from which the country takes decades to strike back to normal.

Asbin Ghimire, 7th Sem BPH Student, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University
Email:  asbing5t45@gmail.com, Cell No. +977-9860080199

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

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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.

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

Adverse effect of COVID-19 on workers and ways to mitigate them

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Public Health

Vacancy Announcement for Research Associate (Public Health)- PHASE Nepal

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Vacancy Announcement for Research Associate (Public Health)- PHASE Nepal

PHASE Nepal is a non-governmental, non-profit making, non-political, and an equal employment opportunity providing organization, registered under Social Development Act, 2034 at District Administration Office, Kathmandu, and is affiliated with Social Welfare Council of Nepal. For the last 14 years, PHASE Nepal has been improving the livelihoods of poor communities in Humla, Bajura, Mugu, Gorkha, Dhading, Chitwan, Nuwakot, Kathmandu, and Sindhupalchok districts by providing immediate support through health care and education services and creating opportunities in communities for self-empowerment. Recently, PHASE Nepal has diversified its portfolio to work in Academic Researches.

Some of our currently active research projects are related to Informal Waste Workers, People with Disability, Assistive Technology, Urban Health, Nutrition, IMNCI Health Data Analysis, Health Systems, Participatory Documentary Making, and Agriculture. PHASE Nepal is currently looking for suitable candidates for the following position to work in some of the above and other future research projects.      

Position:  Research Associate (Public Health)

Required Number: Few

Duty Station: Central Office, Thimi, Bhaktapur with frequent visits to project areas in Humla, Mugu, Bajura, Gorkha, Sindhupalchok, and other project areas of PHASE Nepal.

Duration: An annual renewable contract that is conditional to availability of funds and performance (Some of the contracts can be for less than a year depending upon the duration of available funds). 

Job Description

The Research Associate will play a key role and will be responsible for collecting overall research data from the primary source, analyze, and interpret. S/he must independently take a pro-active role in data collection, compiling, digitizing, coordinating, and processing of overall research data and support statistician and research investigators for producing high-quality analytical reports and manuscripts.

Following are the requirements for the position but are not limited to:

  • Work with the PHASE team in research designs such as in developing concept notes, research proposals, and data collection tools.
  • Work with Research Lead in developing, piloting, and implementing research, data analysis, and writing up.
  • Qualitative and quantitative data collection, mentor/train junior researchers/enumerators Support researchers in the field, arrange transportation, accommodation, administrative activities related to data collection, and assisting data entry.
  • Communication and co-ordination between PHASE Nepal and other project partners to manage relationships and deliver work.
  • Help to produce high-quality research outputs for a range of audiences including analysis, manuscript preparation, report writing, and presentations where necessary.
  • Make sure that work is participatory, including working with peer researchers/community and valuing the importance of communicating with different audiences where necessary.
  • Help PHASE’s implementation activities if and when needed.
  • Perform any other duties as required by the line manager in line with the grade of the post.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

  • Minimum Masters in Public Health or Any Health-related subject.
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in Public Health-related research.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of data collection methods like In-Depth Interviews, Survey Designs, and Group Discussions.
  • Strong analytical skills and experience in conducting literature reviews.
  • Proven experience with qualitative research techniques.
  • Experience in writing manuscripts, and progress reports.
  • Ability to work independently in a stressful environment with minimal supervision.
  • Working knowledge of statistical packages such as Stata, SPSS is an advantage.
  • Knowledge of KOBO Tool Box or similar data collection software is an advantage.
  • Knowledge of NVivo data management software is an advantage.
  • Experience in quantitative research is an advantage.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
  • Ability to produce high-quality work under tight deadlines.
  • Systematic, well organized, dependable, and with a high degree of initiative and sense of responsibility.

Salary and Benefits:

Gross Salary: Rs. 85,500 per month. This is including the Provident Fund (10% of Basic Salary), Gratuity (8.33% of Basic Salary), and Festival Allowances (Pro-rata basis).

We also enroll all our staff along with their dependent (Spouse, 3 children, or Parents) in Medical Insurance worth Rs. 2,25,000 (Two Lakh Twenty Five Thousand Only) and Accidental Insurance worth Rs. 20,00,000 (Twenty Lakh Only).

How to Apply:

Interested candidates meeting the above-mentioned criteria are requested to follow the link  Application for Research Associate to apply online no later than 20th May 2020. However, we will close the vacancy if we find the appropriate candidate before the application deadline so please apply ASAP. Please apply only if you meet the required qualification and experiences.

PHASE Nepal is an equal opportunities employer and strictly follows the merit-based selection. Qualified female candidates or those from disadvantaged communities or living with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply. PHASE reserves the right to qualify/disqualify applications in any case. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for the further selection process.

No telephone inquiries will be entertained and any inappropriate recommendation will automatically disqualify the candidate from further processing.

Source of info: PHASE NEPAL Website

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Guest PostOutbreak NewsPublic HealthResearch & Publication

Adverse effect of COVID-19 on workers and ways to mitigate them

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Adverse effect of COVID-19 on workers and ways to mitigate them

Srishti Neupane

Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity, some countries are struggling with the lack of resources and some countries are struggling with the lack of resolve. Exceeding on more than 200 countries and territories, infecting more than 3.7 million and killing more than 258,294 people till date, the world is grappling with a silent killer originated from  Wuhan city in Eastern China, officially named as COVID-19.The world economy is enduring a staggering downturn amidst the spread of COVID-19.There has been significant rise in unemployment and underemployment in the wake of the virus affecting millions of workers for which there is a need of decisive, coordinated and immediate response in achieving a sustained and equitable recovery.

The COVID- 19 pandemic poses an extra ordinary challenge to the world. The spread of unprecedented corona and its unprecedented consequences has already had a large negative impact on labor supply and earnings of workers in many countries. Beyond the urgent concerns about the health of the workers and their families, the virus and subsequent economic shocks will impact the world of work across three key dimensions; the quantity of jobs, the quality of work and effects on specific groups who are more vulnerable to adverse labor market outcomes. Nearly 25 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of pandemic as per International Labor Organization. With many businesses struggling to survive, loss of jobs and income and working poverty are a reality for many workers. The impacts are already visible. Individuals are already suffering immediate losses in terms of income and employment. Labor supply is declining because of quarantine measures. At this point, the decline in economic activity will devastate workers close to or below the poverty line.

Unfortunately, the outlook for the future doesn’t paint a brighter picture. Some employers have already started laying off employees whereas others have asked them to stay on unpaid leave for some time. Labor migration has already come to a complete halt and numerous affected countries that are labor destinations for many workers have gone into lockdown, shuttering industries and factories. Workers are not able to return home which might leave them without basic facilities and their families back home without an income, affecting both physically and mentally. However, the impact is not same for all types of workers. The downturn is particularly harsh for younger workers, unprotected workers including self-employed, casual and gig workers, workers with unstable employment relationships and those in more precarious types of employment. They are likely to be disproportionately hit by the virus as they do not have access to paid sick leave and are less protected by conventional social protection mechanisms and other forms of income smoothing. These worries are even greater for workers with an underlying and invisible chronic health condition. Daily-wage earners will be hardest hit, as they have to go out every day to make ends meet.

Furthermore, the decision not to show up at work when feeling ill is particularly difficult for a person without paid sick leave and little savings to fall back on. While millions of people are laid off, some set of individuals working in agricultural, industrial, health or any sectors don’t want to slow down. With decreased working hours and increased sleepless nights, many workers are confined to their workplace with full mind thinking of family and empty stomach thrilling for food. The agricultural workers if able to produce, the consumption is decreasing due to lockdown which hits them financially. On the other hand, health workers are at the front line of the COVID -19 outbreak response and such are exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection due to which many of them lost their life unwillingly. Hazard includes pathogen exposure, long working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout, stigma and physical and psychological violence. Along with the men, the women who make up 70% of health workforce across the globe are more likely to be frontline health workers, have less access to PPE and essential safety measures. Similarly, the absence of adequate social protection systems exacerbates working family’s vulnerability to the crisis.

Since many of these workers risk their lives to protect ours, the nation has a responsibility to protect the health and financial stability of these individuals and their families. The policy responses should focus on two immediate goals: health promotion measures and economic support on both the demand and supply side. At first, the workers and employers and their families should be protected from the health risks of COVID-19. Protective measures at the workplace and across community should be introduced and strengthened, requiring large-scale public support and investment and social protection must be extended. Second, timely large scale and coordinated policy efforts should be taken to provide employment and income support and to stimulate the economy and labor demand. This measures not only  cushion enterprises and workers against immediate employment and income losses but also help prevent a chain of supply shocks and demand shocks that could lead to a prolonged economic recession. Protecting workers in the workplace, stimulating the economy and labor demand and supporting employment and incomes can be the good policies to minimize the direct effects of the corona on workers.

Likewise, provision of social distancing and personal protective equipment specially for health and allied workers, volunteers and others in permanent contact with people and hygiene procedures such as thorough hand washing, using sanitizers can be appropriate to protect workers in the workplace as per the guidelines of WHO. Encouraging workers to stay home if they are sick,  maintaining routine cleaning and disinfecting of work environment is essential for vulnerable workers. Prompt identification and isolation of potentially infectious individuals is a critical step in protecting workers and others in worksite. Enhancing universal access to collectively-finance health services for all including uninsured workers and their families, expanding access to  paid sick leave  to ensure income security  for those who are sick and quarantined. It is high time that the state should come forward with relief packages for those families who depend on daily wage earning (as per Nepali saying, “Give to the one who eats when having, not to the one who always have”). The provisions of food and shelter for labors who are stuck in their labor destination should be made by the respective governments.  Also, the female workers in any sectors have their unique health needs so, there must be the provision of sexual and reproductive health services including maternal health care along with essential hygiene and sanitation items focusing mainly for female health workers.

In a nutshell, the global COVID-19 pandemic is a genuine shock to daily life which has wrought havoc across the continents, leaving behind not just thousands dead, but also the global economy in tatters. Regardless of how the situation develops, action steps have to be taken immediately to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on all the affected workers. Everything we do during and after the COVID-19 crisis must aim to build more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies. At the end of the day, we are all human and every one of us may be impacted by COVID-19.

STAY SAFE!

Srishti Neupane, BPH 5th Semester, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University 

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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.

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

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Guest PostPublic HealthResearch & Publication

The Situation of Country after COVID-19 | Moiz Khan

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

The Situation of Country after COVID-19 | Moiz Khan

Moiz Khan

We barely bother the future as we are now fighting against noble coronavirus pandemic commonly called COVID-19. We don’t know what next, and how does it end. The post COVID-19 people on the planet must face unparalleled social and economic challenges. Millions of jobs are at risk. The UN agency –International Labor Organization (ILO) for example, warned that the latest dire assessment reflects the full or particle lockdown measure that affects almost 2.7 billion workers– four in five of the world’s workforce. While we have no research data available at the national level, Nepal needs to protect the most vulnerable segments such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), self-employment, women, and youth.

We know pandemic is causing large-scale loss of life and severe human suffering globally. The world is facing an unprecedented test. And this is the moment of truth. The World Health Organization has confirmed that COVID-19 is pandemic in nature. Though originated in the Wuhan City of China has so far affected the people of 197 countries including Nepal. [1] Well, the impacts we are facing in the present condition will determine the situation of country after the pandemic is over. It has affected the economic aspects of the development of the country. The branches of development including agriculture, tourism, and industry are mostly affected. These factors will let us know what will be the condition of Nepal after COVID-19.

The main focus goes on the lifestyle of a person. Lockdown for the long term may affect our habits. The socio-economic condition of a normal person is somehow affected which will definitely change our lifestyle after the pandemic is over. The need to upgrade international standards for the hygiene, working conditions, and living facilities will be also affected. Moreover, energy and creativity are degraded.

While the first concern is public health, we may expect disruptions in the food supply chains. The shortage of fertilizers, veterinary medicines, and other input could affect agricultural production. Closures of restaurants and less frequent grocery shopping diminish demand for fresh produce and fisheries products, affecting producers and suppliers. Currently, some 820 million people around the world are experiencing chronic hunger, not eating enough caloric energy to live normal lives. Of these, 113 million are coping with acute severe insecurity, a hunger so severe that it poses an immediate threat to their lives or livelihoods and renders them reliant on external assistance to survive. [2] These obstructions in a healthy diet may lead to many long-term health hazards. The insufficiency of elements like protein, carbohydrate, fats may lead
to severe diseases. For example, Quarantines and panic during the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Sierra Leone (2014-2016), led to a spike in hunger and malnutrition. [3] The organization like FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) is particularly concerned about the pandemic’s impacts on vulnerable communities. The small-scale farmers, pastoralists, and fishers who might be hindered from working on their land, caring for their livestock, or fishing have to face challenges accessing markets to sell their products or buy essential inputs. Mostly they have to struggle due to higher food prices and limited purchasing power. On the supply side, companies experience a reduction in the supply of labor. Many of the laborers will be hard hit by job and income losses in harvesting and processing. As the virus spreads and cases mount, there are countless ways the food systems at all levels will be tested and strained in the coming weeks and months.

The science and industry were not focused on any medicine or drug regarding the pandemic. However, the study after the crisis started has made many foundations and creations in the field of Science and Technology. The measures to support innovation can be fruitful in these conditions. China encouraged SMEs to engage in the innovation of technologies and products related to pandemic prevention and control. Why we are not concerned about the effects of this crisis after it’s over? There is no medicine or vaccine for use at this point in time. However, various studies have given a relief that it can be managed to some extent. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), for restricted public health use among the symptomatic Covid-19 patients, has approved Lopinavir/Ritonavir, a fixed-dose combination antiretroviral sold under the brand name of Kaletra. The Doctors have also recommended the use of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for the high-risk population. [4] It is the largest public health crisis in living memory, which has also generated a major economic crisis, with a halt in production in affected countries, a collapse in consumption and confidence, and stock exchanges responding negatively to heightened uncertainties. [5] There are several ways the coronavirus pandemic affects the economy, especially SMEs, on both the supply and demand sides. Considering the unparalleled and fast-evolving nature of the crisis, it is extremely challenging to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on international tourism. UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) is working closely with the World Health Organization. The problems in logistics associated with restriction in transportation, border closures, and the reduced demand in restaurants and hotels can generate significant market changes i.e. affecting prices. UNWTO estimates international tourist arrivals could decline by 20% to 30% in 2020. [5] This estimate is very true for Nepal since the decline in international tourist arrivals can lower our economy by a margin.

Looking after some background, the 2008 financial crisis showed the world what could happen when reduced income and uncertainty make people spend less and result in shrinking demand. Sales declined. So did production. In March, the OECD (Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development) cut its forecast for global economic growth in 2020 from 2.9 percent to 2.4 percent, which would be the lowest level since the financial crisis a decade ago, warning that a prolonged and more intensive coronavirus epidemic could even halve this figure to a mere 1.5 percent. [6] This data tells us what can be the condition of the developing countries after this ends. Moreover, there will be a significant devaluation of the exchange rate with respect to the US dollar, which will also affect the import-dependent countries. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reassessed the prospect for growth for 2020 and 2021, declaring that we have entered a recession – as bad as or worse than in 2009. [7]

Many countries have introduced SME specific policy measures. In order to ease future constraints, many countries have introduced measures towards the deferral of tax, social security payments, debt payments, rent, and utility payments. Several countries are providing grants and subsidies to SMEs and other companies to bridge the drop in revenues. Policy inputs like the formulation of wage support schemes and the provision of loan guarantees can be helpful for future days. It’s high time for human civilizations with the low point of self-esteem of survival but there is always a string of hope and faith with which humans can overcome any kind of battle.

What the world needs now is unity. With solidarity, we can defeat the virus and build a better world.
References:

  1. https://www.mygov.in/covid-19 (accessed on 9th April)
  2. http://www.fao.org/ (accessed on 10th April)
  3. World Health Organization (2016)- Report of Ebola (accessed on 10th April)
  4. URL:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (accessed on 10th April)
  5. Impact assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak on international tourism (accessed on 11th April)
  6. URL: http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/ (accessed on 12th April)
  7. WHO.https://www.who.int/publications-detail/covid-19-operational-guidance- formaintaining-essential-health-services-during-an-outbreak (accessed on 12th April)
  8. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 70 (accessed on 12th April)

Moiz Khan, Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences (7th Semester), School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Dhungepatan, Pokhara-30, Kaski, Nepal

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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.

A state of Dual Pandemic: COVID-19 & Falsified ProductsDigital 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

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Maternal, Newborn and Child HealthPH Important DayPublic Health

International Day of the Midwife 2020! Celebrate. Demonstrate. Mobilise. Unite.

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

International Day of the Midwife 2020! Celebrate. Demonstrate. Mobilise. Unite.

International Day of the Midwife is observed each year  on the 5th of May since 1992, ICM leads global recognition and celebration of the work of midwives. Midwives, women, girls, partners and supporters of midwives and midwifery globally come together to celebrate the International Day of the Midwife with their own activities, driven by one strong, collective voice.

Theme

The theme for The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) 2020 builds off the theme for the International Year of the Midwife 2020 – ‘Celebrate. Demonstrate. Mobilise. Unite.’ For IDM 2020, ICM will focus in more depth on how midwives and women can partner together to mobilise and unite toward a shared goal of gender equality.

Objectives

  • Inform everyone with an interest or background in health and justice that midwives are crucial to reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality
  • Celebrate  the achievements of midwives and their contribution to improving sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health outcomes
  • Motivate policymakers to implement change by lobbying for adequate midwifery resources and recognition of the unique professional role of midwives.

Message to Midwives 

  • Be bold and brave and speak up for women’s and girl’s rights in your countries and communities.
  • Fight injustices in every space you see them, from female genital mutilation, sexual violence, harassment and unfair and unequal treatment of women and girls.
  • Strengthen your partnerships with women as a vital part of delivering quality care and ensure respectful maternity care is central to their work.
  • Educate women on their rights to informed choice about their bodies and their lives which includes pregnancy, normal childbirth and contraception.
  • Encourage women to ask healthcare professionals questions about their decisions and not to be coerced into any early medical interventions.
  • Advocate equal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls.

Source of info: ICM

 

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PH Important DayPublic HealthPublic Health Events

Hand Hygiene Day! Nurses and midwives, clean care is in your hands!

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Hand Hygiene Day! Nurses and midwives, clean care is in your hands!

Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated every year on 5 May, Hand Hygiene Day mobilizes people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in health care facilities, thus protecting health care workers and patients from infections.

“Make Handwashing a Habit!” – Global Hand washing Day 2016

This year, the campaign theme “SAVE LIVES: Clean your hands”, is aligned with the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and aims to recognize nurses and midwives as front-line heroes who deserve acknowledgement and appreciation, and highlight their critical roles in infection prevention.

2020 Campaign Objectives

The main goal of the Global Hand Hygiene Day campaign is to recognize that handwashing is one of the most effective actions you can take to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus. Health workers and community members alike can play a role in preventing infections by practicing regular and frequent handwashing.

As part of the 2020 campaign, WHO and partners aim to:

  • Make hand hygiene a global priority
  • Inspire hand hygiene and behavior change
  • Engage with health care workers in their role in clean care and the prevention of infections.

The campaign also makes a call to action to policy-makers to provide safe work environments for nurses and improve staffing levels. Additionally, it calls on infection prevention and control leaders to empower nurses and midwives in providing clean care. The campaign also contributes to the United Nations Secretary General’s Global Call to Action on WASH in health care facilities.

#SafeHands Challenge #HandHygiene, #SupportNursesandMidwives.

Calls to action are:

  • Nurses: “Clean and safe care starts with you.”
  • Midwives: “Your hands make all the difference for mothers and babies.”
  • Policy Makers: “Increase nurse staffing levels to prevent infections and improve quality of care. Create the means to empower nurses and midwives.”
  • IPC Leaders: “Empower nurses and midwives in providing clean care.”
  • Patients and Families: “Safer care for you, with you.”

WHO

World Hand Hygiene Day!! SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands 5 May 2017 : ‘Fight antibiotic resistance – it’s in your hands’

5 moments for hand hygiene

Instant Hand Sanitizer (Alcohol Based) Standard 2076

The science of hand sanitizers

Global Handwashing Day 2019: ”Clean Hands for All”

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National Plan, Policy & GuidelinesResearch & Publication

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

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

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

Order for Hazard Allowance Management

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE 

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE 

Order for COVID-19 Unified Hospital Operation- 2077

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Order for Hospital Grant

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Resources: Guidelines, Recording and Reporting Formats

Collateral Threats of COVID-19 and Climate Change

WHO Press Release: On Unauthorized Use of WHO Logo

The bumpy road to better health: How embedded research strengthened health services in Ghana

When Will COVID-19 End Data-Driven Estimation of End Dates (updated on April 28)

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Environmental Health & Climate ChangeGuest PostPublic HealthResearch & Publication

Collateral Threats of COVID-19 and Climate Change

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Collateral Threats of COVID-19 and Climate Change

Sundar  Lamichhane

The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global human tragedy, affecting millions of people all around the world. The pandemic has resulted in the largest number of shutdowns/lockdowns worldwide at the same time in history. As of May 2 2020, more than 3.4 million cases have been reported in 212 countries and territories, resulting in more than 239,622 deaths. The Covid-19 pandemic may turn out to be the tip of the iceberg of the climate crisis. The geo-physical and socio economic changes that the world is experiencing today will bring unprecedented challenges, including public health crises like this current pandemic.  Between 2030 and 2050, WHO estimates climate change will cause approximately 250, 000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress.

COVID-19 and climate change both pose existential threats to the people all over the globe; both were foretold by scientists and researchers. While it may not affect large number of people that we have seen with current pandemic, climate change will apply mounting pressures on healthcare systems. In order for healthcare systems to meet these challenges, concerned authorities and people should learn lessons from the current pandemic. Although the Covid-19 pandemic itself might not be directly linked to environmental and climate change but there are, some parallels that can be drawn:

  • As seen on the current pandemic we require well-resourced, equitable health systems with a strong and supported health workforce to protect us from health security threats, including climate change in upcoming future. Global cooperation and advance preparedness is required to mitigate the burden on healthcare systems, reducing morbidity and mortality.
  • Ongoing pandemic shows that inequality is a major barrier in ensuring the health and wellbeing of people. Being specific social and economic inequality contributes in unequal access to healthcare systems. The consequences of COVID-19 seems to be greater for cities and people exposed to higher levels of pollution, which are most often people living in poorer areas. In case for health impacts of climate change, we have to face similar unexpected ramifications with one of its major causes, the burning of fossil fuels, eventually adding pollution to the airand impacting the health of poorer people living in poverty.
  • To be safe and protect themselves from the current pandemic people all around the world dramatically change their behavior which guided us to realize the potential of lifestyle change can bring sustainable change in society. This temporary shift of behaviors could lead to a long-term shift in old behaviors and assumptions, which can be one of the sustainable way to prevent ourselves from catastrophic consequences of climate change and upcoming calamities.
  • Climate change may shift the dimension of disease occurrence (where when and how severe). Looking at the current pandemic difficulty is seen in differentiating the symptoms with other similar flu in early days. Disease monitoring and prevention guidelines should be updated so that clinicians can best recognize novel contexts and symptoms of conditions and recommend preventive measures to their patients, given the changing patterns and mechanisms of disease development brought by climate change.

Consequences of COVID-19 pandemic can last on a time scale for months creating problem for everyone living now but the outcome of climate change can have consequential impacts for future generations. This pandemic had taught us valuable lessons to build more robust healthcare response plans at the state and community levels to support vulnerable population and all other people

Through close international collaboration and effective action the spread of COVID-19 is slowing down within their own borders. In the same way for the stabilization of climate all nations should reduce their emissions (CO2 and other harmful gases) Going it alone doesn’t work. This needs strong and effective coordination from all the countries around the globe.

The pandemic should serve as a wake-up call to realize and address the nature related risks caused by human activities. Strong policies should be formulated and implemented to address the various climate change issues.

References

Sundar  Lamichhane, BPH 7th semester student, SHAS Pokhara University, Pokhara Metropolitan City-30, Lekhnath, Kaski, Nepal, Email:lcsundar7@gmail.com, contact No: 9861182963

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WHO Press Release: On Unauthorized Use of WHO Logo

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

WHO Press Release: On Unauthorized Use of WHO Logo

1 May 2020 

News release
Nepal


Screen Shot 2020 05 01 at 13.21.41

The World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office for Nepal, has been receiving information about unauthorized use of the WHO logo in some instances in the country. We wish to draw attention to the fact that the emblem/logo/symbol of the WHO is part of the Organization’s intellectual property, and its use implies endorsement by the WHO; and the logo may only be used with the express written permission of the WHO. Guidance on the procedure to obtain permission to use the WHO logo is available on the WHO’s website.

The use of the WHO logo is restricted to government agencies and institutions that have an official collaborating status with the WHO and only in conjunction with the work that they are undertaking with the WHO.

We request all to follow the said guidelines and share this information with partners. Please inform WHO, Country Office Nepal, in case you notice a breach.

1 May 2020  News release Nepal

For media inquiries, email samatya@who.int

The use of the WHO emblem and logo is governed by a resolution of the First World Health Assembly (resolution WHA1.133), which states that “appropriate measures should be taken to prevent the use, without authorization by the Director-General, and in particular for commercial purposes by means of trade-marks or commercial labels, of the emblem, the official seal and the name of the World Health Organization, and of abbreviations of that name through the use of its initial letters”. WHO’s rules accepted by its 194 Member States do not allow the Organization’s name, emblem or logo to be used to promote specific companies, products or ideologies. – WHO

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