GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the number of estimated coronavirus cases in Pakistan can rise to an estimated 200,000 by mid-July if “effective interventions” are not taken.
This was stated by Dr Tedros Adhanom, Director-General WHO at the launch of the Pakistan National Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan virtual conference. He said the COVID-19 has already spread globally, upending health systems and economies, and placing lives and livelihoods at risk
Pakistan’s COVID19 Response Plan is a joint strategy of the Government of Pakistan, the United Nations and other global partners. It is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Pakistan’s National Action Plan and WHO’s global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, said the WHO chief.
“The virus has already spread throughout Pakistan, 115+ districts are affected, largely in Punjab & Sindh. The COVID19 outbreak is creating significant additional pressure on an already overburdened health system, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected populations,” he added, giving an overview of the situation in the country.
“The total funding required for the plan is $595M.
The plan emphases:
-supporting the most vulnerable
-strengthening coordination
-supporting disease surveillance & laboratories
-enhancing case management
-ensuring infection prevention & control
-community engagement”-@DrTedros— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 23, 2020
He said that the required funding for the plan was $595mn which would be allocated to support various measures. This plan includes supporting the most vulnerable, strengthening coordination, supporting disease surveillance & laboratories, enhancing case management, ensuring infection prevention and control, and community engagement.
The WHO chief said that particular attention must be paid to mitigating the socio-economic and nutritional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the most vulnerable. “The whole-of-government approach reflected in the plan enables resources to be adapted to support the most effective public health interventions as more is learned about both the virus and the key risk groups,” he said.
“Without effective interventions, there could be an estimated 200K+ cases by mid-July. The impacts on the economy could be devastating, doubling the number of people living in poverty. We must act in solidarity, with a coherent, coordinated approach,” Dr Tedros was quoted as saying.
The statement from the global health body comes at a time when coronavirus cases in Pakistan have surged past 11,000 and more than 235 people have died. There have been more than 2.6 million cases and over 190,000 deaths worldwide.
“The whole-of-government approach reflected in the plan enables resources to be adapted to support the most effective public health interventions as more is learned about both the virus and the key risk groups”-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 23, 2020
“????????’s #COVID19 Response Plan is a joint strategy of the Government of #Pakistan, the @UN and partners. It is aligned with the @GlobalGoalsUN, Pakistan’s National Action Plan and WHO’s global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan”-@DrTedros pic.twitter.com/AJylsRC8Wy
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 23, 2020
