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Add to Preferred SourcesThe COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 “is undoubtedly the most extraordinary public health event of our lifetimes,” Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Carissa F. Etienne said.
“This pandemic stands out in both scale and impact. And it has put a spotlight on two of the longstanding challenges of our region: inequality and underinvestment of our health systems.”
Since the start of this pandemic, less than a year ago, the Region of the Americas has recorded nearly 31 million cases and 787,000 deaths due to COVID-19. This represents roughly half of all COVID-19 infections and deaths worldwide.
“While we hope 2021 will usher a new chapter in our fight against this virus, protecting the millions of people in our region with COVID-19 vaccines will be a huge undertaking. So, we must be patient and remain realistic that COVID-19 will be among us for some time – so our work to control it cannot and must not stop,” Etienne said.
Health systems across the region struggled to manage the influx of COVID-19 cases due to limited supplies, space, and staff. The COVID-19 response also disrupted the essential health services that people depend on to manage conditions like HIV, TB, as well as diabetes, and hypertension. As a result, patients are at greater risk from these treatable conditions and the region could lose decades of progress against diseases.
PAHO’s collaboration to address the epidemic
The Region of the Americas in 2020 matched tragedy and adversity with determination and solidarity. Dr. Etienne noted that in the early stages PAHO helped member countries obtain access to PCR tests, developed a laboratory network to detect cases in cities and rural areas, trained health workers, and assisted in delivering resources and support. The number of ICU beds in Latin America nearly doubled this year thanks to countries swift efforts.
“PAHO was able to support readiness assessments in more than 500 public hospitals in our region that helped shape country strategies against this virus. PAHO has led hundreds of trainings and donated millions of PPEs and diagnostic tests and issued more than 100 pieces of technical guidance to ensure that health workers understand the latest science and can access the latest tools they need to safely combat this virus,” Etienne said.
This week, some of the most vulnerable people in the region are already receiving COVID-19 vaccines, with millions more doses expected early next year. This timeline is astonishing and a testament to the unprecedented collaboration among scientists, researchers, and experts alike.
Global partnerships like the COVAX Facility are also pooling resources, expertise and efforts to ensure that countries have equal access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, under the same timelines.
PAHO Director thanked the Government of Canada for its donation of $255 million Canadian dollars to support COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, adding “We hope other countries will join Canada in its demonstration of solidarity and commitment to promoting equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 tools.”
Original source: PAHO