The Islamic Republic of Iran, reported more than 27,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Like every country, its health system is being challenged by the pandemic. Since the first case was reported on 19 February, WHO has sent seven shipments of emergency medical supplies to the country, including two medicines part of a global research study on treatments for COVID-19, called the Solidarity Trial. “These important medicines will not only support the treatment of patients… but will also help the country contribute significantly to the Solidarity Trial in an effort to find an effective treatment for this virus,” said WHO Representative Dr. Hamlemann. Even overloaded hospitals are able to participate in the study, generating robust data on potential treatments for the virus. Recently, while WHO experts were conducting field trips and technical support work, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education launched a new public campaign to emphasize early detection, contact tracing, and community engagement. Officials from WHO and Iran worked together to identify several priority areas for scale up. “WHO is working closely with the Islamic Republic of Iran in coordinating and providing critical international support to the country during this outbreak,” says Dr. Hamelmann. Soon the number of labs able to test for COVID-19 will rise from 30 to around 50.
