The day of 7 April is celebrated each years as World Health Day. The day highlights crucial health issues the world facing each year. In 2020, the main theme of the day is to “Support the Nurses and Midwives.” The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging people to thank doctors and nurses who are working on the front lines during the coronavirus crisis.
WHO called 2020 The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife because, during this pandemic situation when the whole world is fighting against the coronavirus, doctors, nurses, and midwives are the first and foremost persons who provide care to people in their communities.
Nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers are working on the front lines of COVID-19 response. They are providing effective treatment, high-quality care, leading community dialogues to address questions and fears, also helping the researchers in collecting data for clinical studies. Without nurses, it becomes difficult to achieve COVID-19 response.
In the U.S, while working and providing care to patients, many health care workers died and got a serious infection. Several other care workers may become the carrier of the virus, so they are shifting to tents, hotels and temporary housing to save their loved ones from the infection.
Dr. Anthony Fauci who is a top infectious disease expert in United State named the health care workers as Brave Warriors because they are courageously fighting against this deadly virus.
He further added, healthcare workers and professionals who are treating the people during this pandemic not only providing life-saving treatments to patients but also putting themselves and their families at the great risk of having the infection. It is obligatory for the American public to appreciate the efforts of these people and should salute and applaud them in every possible way.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the main entity that plays a central role in combating the spread of this fatal coronavirus. WHO manages and directs the international response during the infectious disease epidemics or pandemic such as malaria, AIDS and currently the COVID-19. Also, it draws the attention of people towards the major health issues in the world through celebrating the days like World Health Day. During the current situation, it is helping and cooperating with the research institutes to develop the test kits, vaccines, and effective medical treatments. Recently, the WHO has started an international clinical study to test the existing medicines for treating the coronavirus infection.
The most influential and compelling step in the WHO’s arsenal is the announcement of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). It helps the WHO to distribute the funds and resources to the nations who are in need. Also, it conveys the concrete steps to the whole world that should be taken during the pandemic situation as safety measures such as restrictions on traveling and quarantine measures. The members of the Emergency committee continually modify the organization response according to the changing situation. WHO recommendations are not compulsory to follow but many countries are following them for safety.
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In early March, WHO declared that the outbreak of coronavirus has gained a pandemic status and took substantial measures to avoid a large number of cases all over the world. It gained praise for taking significant actions at the early stages. The COVID-19 response was much better as compared to the responses to the swine flu pandemic in 2009 and the Ebola crisis in 2014-15. At the end of these epidemics WHO observed its mistakes and alter its way to deal with the outbreaks.
Adhanom Ghebreyesus who is the director-general of the World Health organization said that as the coronavirus outbreak has gained the pandemic status, so it did not alter the goals and mission of the WHO and its members.
Many observers say that the success of WHO in managing the global crisis lies in the efforts of its director general Tedros Adhanom. During this critical situation, he did not get panic and not afraid of the spotlight as he is efficiently running the organization since 2017. He also faced criticism from the other countries on appreciating the way China cope up with coronavirus outbreak.
This year the stance of WHO on World Health Day is appreciable. Because it is celebrated to praise the efforts of nurses and midwives in fighting against the coronavirus .Also, the contribution of workers such as security guard, shop keepers, cleaners and delivery people are not forgettable. Because these people are helping the others to stay home safely. It is the time when whole world needs to act in united manner so that it will possible to control the coronavirus outbreak.