COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the value of quality - assured and the need of well – managed healthcare in the prevention, detection and control of disease outbreaks, which saves lives and resources. At the same time, when preparing for health crises, health systems face the prospect of multiple risks, limited resources and high expectations with regards to their performance. Likewise in Myanmar, the public health sector was severely impacted with the double burden when the system of COVID-19 response across all strategic response pillars was disrupted due to the political situations. At such times, the Member States, require to respond rapidly and effectively to maintain or restore access to health care for the affected population. And this is possible only if preparedness programmes and reliable information are in place.
To meet these needs, WHO Myanmar launched an online Myanmar channel in Open WHO platform as well as a local Viber Community in order to strengthen local capacity in responding to public health emergencies.
COVID-19 vaccination course, is acknowledged as the first-ever Myanmar course in the OpenWHO.org, to support safe and efficient COVID-19 vaccine administration, and translated into 3 ethnic languages in Myanmar - Burmese, Sagaw Karen and Shan, which users can learn in their preferred one to enhance uptake and comprehension. It is also aimed to expand networks and develop the skills within local partners organizations that are needed to reduce the level of risk while reaching out to the communities at grassroot level or hard – to – reach areas.
Not only a skilled, qualified workforce, but also an educated public equipped with the public health information are essential in response to COVID19. Thus, the initiative of Viber Community was launched at a time when Myanmar faced a severe third wave of COVID-19 transmission starting in July 2021. This free access digital technology was aimed to reach as many people as possible and intended to help counter misinformation and debunk myths, concerns, and rumours. Once subscribed to the WHO Viber platform for information sharing, Myanmar people can access standard and very latest WHO infographics and video messages on COVID-19 public health and social measures, symptoms, aspects of clinical care, vaccine related facts, and variants of SARSCoV-2, etc. The messages are simple, easy to understand and developed in local languages as an outstanding community outreach RCCE effort. This platform has been proven to be a trusted and reliable source of information to the public and the rapid growth of this Viber Community launched in July 2021 having reached more than 2 million members to date is an apt testimony to its usefulness to the general public in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we all know too well now, each and every one should and able to protect themselves and their loved ones with the knowledge and tools available in COVID19 response and scaling up capacity development in emergency risk management plays a crucial role not only in the pandemic but also in other health threats and protracted crises. What is clear from the COVID-19 pandemic is that the action today can secure a healthier tomorrow. When health is at risk, everything is at risk. Thus, while recognizing the challenges in the country, WHO commits to support Myanmar with the modalities and actions needed to set up our health systems to save lives now, and long after the pandemic as well.