As the WHO Region of the Americas reports 100,000 cases of COVID-19 a day, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa F. Etienne, called for strong coordination across countries, evidence to guide leaders’ actions and for people to protect themselves and others.
Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic “requires strong coordination across countries, a deep understanding of epidemiological trends, clear guidance and a reliable supply of health products. These are all things that PAHO is actively doing to strengthen the response of our Member States,” Dr. Etienne says.
PAHO and WHO teams closely track new evidence and translate it into country guidance documents, thus far having issued over 100 such documents.
COVID-19 cases in the Americas continue to accelerate, though new patterns are emerging, with the past six months bringing “positive surprises” that have confirmed the resilience of the region’s health systems, but persistent challenges remain.
A top priority was protecting nurses, doctors, and other vulnerable health workers with adequate personal protective equipment. WHO/PAHO has been receiving reports of health workers becoming ill in the line of duty because of lack of personal protective equipment or due to unsafe work conditions.
PAHO has provided guidance, training and Personal Protective Equipment to countries and continues to support them “to create better working conditions for frontline workers”.