In this edition of the Monthly Operational Update on Health Emergencies, there are several highlights of country-level actions and WHO support to countries.
One highlight is the support provided by WHO to fight cholera in the Mandera Triangle. This support is crucial in helping to combat the spread of the disease and reduce the number of cases.
In Chad, there is an intensification of health support for refugees from the Sudanese crisis. This support is essential in ensuring that the refugee population receives the necessary medical care and assistance they need.
There is also an operational review of WHO’s response to the Türkiye and Syria earthquake. This review is important in identifying any areas for improvement and ensuring that future responses are more effective and efficient.
Another focus is on the lessons learned from the Emergency Medical Team’s response to the Türkiye Earthquake. By identifying these lessons, future emergency responses can be better prepared and more successful.
Efforts are being made to strengthen primary health care facilities’ environmental sustainability and resilience through Téchne’s international multidisciplinary summer school. This initiative aims to ensure that health care facilities are better equipped to handle environmental challenges and emergencies.
PAHO/WHO has published a landmark evaluation of its COVID-19 response from 2020 to 2022. This evaluation helps to assess the effectiveness of the response and identify areas for improvement.
There is also a focus on enhancing preparedness and disaster response capacities in Central America and the Dominican Republic through the third Regional Emergency and Disaster Drill. This drill helps to ensure that countries in the region are better prepared to respond to emergencies and disasters.
The western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova are welcoming a new era for respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness. This initiative aims to improve preparedness and response capabilities in the event of a respiratory pathogen outbreak.
There is a collective service called RCCE that aims to place communities at the center of health emergency readiness and response. This service ensures that communities are involved in decision-making and have access to the necessary information and resources during health emergencies.
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic are also being integrated into future actions. WHO and the Department of Health held the first crisis communications and infodemic management workshop in the Philippines. This workshop helps to improve communication strategies and address misinformation during health emergencies.
Efforts are being made to strengthen emergency readiness and response capacities in the South-East Asia Region through enhanced operations support and logistics. This includes improving logistics systems and ensuring that resources and support are readily available during emergencies.
Finally, the WHO Logistics Hub provides a monthly update for July 2023. This update helps to ensure that logistics and supply chain operations are running smoothly and effectively.
Overall, these highlights demonstrate the various actions and initiatives taken by WHO and countries to enhance their readiness and response to health emergencies. These efforts are crucial in ensuring the well-being and safety of communities.