The World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of global health issues that the world could need to manage in 2021 as insufficiencies of health system across nations lay bare at the hands of the coronavirus disease that has claimed over 1.75 million lives worldwide.
The pandemic could set back the worldwide health progress accomplished in the previous 20 years and in 2021, the world would need to work hard to repair and reinforce their health systems if they want to effectively deliver vaccines, the WHO said.
The ten different ways to assist nations strengthen preparedness for emergencies in 2021 are:
- build global fortitude for overall health security: Countries need to cooperate to improve their preparedness for health emergencies. Support needs to be targeted to the most vulnerable communities, including in urban settings, small island countries and conflict settings.
- Speed up access to Covid-19 tests, medicines and vaccine: WHO aims to achieve equitable access to vaccines and treatments and to ensure a smooth delivery to the needy. The WHO will distribute 2 billion vaccines; 245 million treatments; establish testing for 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries; and strengthen the health systems needed to support them.
- Advance health for all: During the coming year, nations would have to strengthen their health system with the goal that they can respond to emergencies such as Covid-19.
- Handling health imbalances: WHO will work with countries to address health inequities related to income, gender, ethnicity, education, occupation/employment conditions, disability etc.
- Give worldwide leadership on science and data: Countries would have to reinforce the limit of their health information and data systems to report on progress towards their health related objectives, the WHO has said adding that it would monitor and evaluate all scientific developments around Covid-19 and other emergencies, identifying opportunities to harness those advances to improve global health.
- Revive efforts to handle communicable diseases: Next year, the WHO will help countries get vaccines for polio and other diseases to the people who missed out during the pandemic.
- Combat drug obstruction: Countries will have the option to beat infection illnesses only if they have effective medicines to treat them. WHO said it will improve global monitoring and continue to support national action plans, ensuring that antimicrobial resistance is factored into health emergencies preparedness plans.
- Prevent and treat NCDs and psychological health conditions: According to the WHO, noncommunicable decease (NCDs) were responsible for 7 of the main 10 reasons for death in 2019 and 2020 taught us how peoples with NCDs were vulnerable against Covid-19. The year 2021 should focus on ensuring that that screening and treatment programmes for diseases are accessible to the needy.
- Build back better: Covid-19 has give us a chance to build back a “superior, “better, greener, healthier world” in 2021, WHO said.
- Act in solidarity: There is a requirement for everyone to show more noteworthy fortitude. Countries, establishments, networks and people should “close the breaks” in guards, the WHO said.
