WHO is uniting across borders to speed up the development of tests, treatments and a vaccine for COVID-19, while continuing our work to promote health and serve the vulnerable. Now more than ever the world needs WHO.
The persistence of obstetric fistula, one of the most serious injuries that can occur during childbirth, is a tragic sign of social injustice and inequity in developing countries. This failure of health systems could grow greater in times of COVID-19. This International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, the theme is: "End gender inequality! End health inequities! End Fistula now!". Efforts to end fistula should continue. Universal access to quality maternal health care, preventive measures, and increased attention to affected women and girls should be a priority right now.
When a 45-year-old Russian seafarer aboard a large cargo ship began to show signs of suffering a stroke, in mid-April, the ship鈥檚 captain was immediately alerted. Global Voyager Assistance, a remote medical assistance provider, confirmed the stroke diagnosis. But the ship was more than 220 km from the nearest port, and the port authorities rejected initial appeals for emergency medical assistance, due to COVID-19 restrictions in place. Despite repeated requests from the vessel鈥檚 captain, the seafarer鈥檚 national trade union and that of the country the ship was headed for, the ship could not enter port. The International Transport Workers鈥 Federation (ITF) called on two UN agencies, the International Maritime Organization () and the International Labour Organization (), to intervene urgently.
It may seem obvious to an adult, but to a child it may not be so clear that they aren鈥檛 to blame if they get sick with聽COVID-19.
Dr Vicente Estrada, a Spanish infectious disease doctor, has dedicated his career to studying and fighting HIV. But when Madrid, where he lives and works, became a hotspot for COVID-19, Dr Estrada and his colleagues pivoted their work to help find a treatment for the disease that is taking a devastating toll on many countries around the world. Through the leadership of the World Health Organization, Dr Estrada and hundreds of other doctors around the world are now working together to find an effective treatment for COVID-19 through WHO鈥檚 Solidarity Clinical Trial.
Several countries in Asia and Europe, where the COVID-19 outbreak appears to have peaked, are gradually reopening their economies. Without a vaccine or effective treatment, policymakers will be balancing the benefits of resuming economic activity against the potential cost of another increase in infection rates. They face difficult choices, in part, because the costs of erring in either direction could be very large. Given this, authorities are adopting a gradual and sequenced approach to reopening, along with the adoption of further prevention and containment measures.
Without vaccines, we are at risk of serious illness and disability from diseases聽like measles, meningitis, tetanus and polio. In today' interconnected world, infectious diseases easily cross borders, infecting anyone who is not vaccinated. Get vaccinated on time, every time.
, , and the have issued guidelines on the safe reopening of schools amidst ongoing closures affecting nearly 1.3 billion students worldwide. The caution that the widespread closures of educational facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented risk to children鈥檚 education and wellbeing, particularly for the most marginalized children who rely on school for their education, health, safety and nutrition. The guidelines offer practical advice for national and local authorities on how to keep children safe when they return to school.
鈥檚 Pata Pata, is a fresh take on Miriam Makeba鈥檚 1967 hit song. Once called the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 most defiantly joyful song鈥, Pata Pata has been re-recorded by Kidjo to spread information about COVID-19, with a focus on hundreds of millions of people in remote communities around the world. put out a call to the global public, asking people to submit videos of themselves dancing to the song in their homes and gardens, while observing various COVID-19 lockdown, containment and curfew rules. The response was overwhelming.
Impact of COVID-19 epidemic hits Indonesia鈥檚 small seaweed processors
How radio is lending Malawi鈥檚 farmers a hand in the fight against COVID-19
While schools are reopening in some corners of the world after pandemic-induced closures, the United Nations and its partners are helping children continue their learning through all possible means, including the Internet, radio and television. Among those efforts, has issued a call to support learning and knowledge-sharing through 鈥 materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or under an open license that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.
From misinformation about the use of disinfectants to combat the coronavirus, to false claims that the virus can spread through radio waves and mobile networks, unreliable information is hurting the global effort to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. By dispelling rumours, fake news, and messages of hate and division, the United Nations is working to spread accurate information. To rally forces behind this effort, the UN is launching a new COVID-19 Communications Response Initiative based on science, solutions and solidarity to fight misinformation.
As the coronavirus pandemic has halted the travel industry, the United Nations works to cushion the economic impact of COVID-19 on small island developing States, which continue reeling from climate-related challenges. The sudden downturn in travel has left island economies heavily reliant on foreign visitors very worried about their finances. , among other UN entities, supports the government responses in Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands to reach children most in need, while facing the additional demands of the ongoing preparedness and response efforts for COVID-19.
The United Nations works around the clock to prevent the pandemic from wreaking havoc on refugees, migrants and other vulnerable populations already facing humanitarian crises. In cramped camp settings, measures to avoid community transmission such as physical distancing and frequent handwashing, are difficult to implement. To prepare for a potential outbreak of the coronavirus in the camps, and partners have started constructing isolation and treatment facilities. Refugees and internally displaced people themselves are also responding to the looming threat of COVID-19.