WHO

The first Indian elected as Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Region expressed concern over the rapidly spreading cases of monkeypox, but noted that since cases are concentrated among men who have sex with men, further spread of the disease could be stopped with targeted efforts among the at-risk population.

“It is really concerning that monkeypox is spreading quickly to many nations that have never previously experienced it. With targeted efforts among the at-risk population, the disease can be stopped from spreading further as cases are concentrated among males who have sex with other men “In a statement, WHO Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said.

Monkeypox has been deemed a public health emergency of worldwide significance, and the World Health Organization has called on nations in the South-East Asia Region to step up surveillance and public health measures.

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Monkeypox has been deemed a public health emergency by WHO as of yesterday.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared on Saturday that the global monkeypox outbreak “represents a public health emergency of international significance.”

In 75 countries, including three in India and one in Thailand, more than 16000 cases of monkeypox have been documented.

While an international resident of Thailand has been verified to have monkeypox, the cases in India are among citizens who have recently returned from the Middle East.

The World Health Organization urged South-East Asian nations on Sunday to increase public health and surveillance efforts for

The regional director stressed the need for sensitive, anti-stigma, and anti-discriminatory initiatives and actions.

“Monkeypox is a moderate concern both internationally and in the Region, but it does have the potential to move further abroad. In addition, there are still a lot of questions about the virus. In order to stop the further spread of monkeypox, we must be vigilant and ready to take immediate action “Dr. Singh continued.

Since the outbreak’s inception, WHO has assisted nations in assessing risk, launching public health initiatives, and establishing and enabling testing capacities throughout the Region.

The Regional Director listed several important measures that need to be scaled-up, including involving and safeguarding the affected communities, stepping up surveillance and public health initiatives, enhancing clinical management and infection prevention and control in hospitals and clinics, and speeding up research into the use of vaccines, therapeutics, and other tools.

Direct/Indirect contact can spread Monkeypox

Direct or indirect contact between infected animals and people can spread the monkeypox virus. Direct skin-to-skin, skin-to-skin, and respiratory droplet contact with infectious skin or lesions can result in human-to-human transmission. Transmission appears to be predominantly through close physical contact, including sexual contact, in the areas where the current outbreak is happening as well as among the cases of monkeypox that have been documented.

Additionally, contaminated items with infectious skin particles, like linens, mattresses, electronics, and clothing, can spread the disease.

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Globe Health Organization (WHO) director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned the world on Tuesday that new COVID-19 cases suggest the pandemic is “far from ending.”

In a news conference on COVID-19, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan remarked, “I am worried that cases of COVID-19 continue to grow, placing further strain on already overburdened health systems and health workers, and mortality remain unacceptably high.” He recommended nations to examine and update their COVID19 response strategies on a regular basis depending on current epidemiology and the possibility of new variations emerging.

The COVID-19 Emergency Committee convened last week and agreed that the virus is still a public health emergency of worldwide significance.

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“I am worried that COVID-19 cases continue to grow, putting further strain on already overburdened health systems and health workers, and that mortality remain unacceptably high,” added Dr Tedros.

He went on to discuss the Emergency Committee on COVID-19’s worries regarding multiple interconnected difficulties.

“Sub-variants of Omicron, such as BA.4 and BA.5, continue to generate waves of cases, hospitalisation, and mortality throughout the world,” stated WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.

The committee also emphasised the issue of decreased monitoring, including testing and sequencing, making it increasingly difficult to determine the impact of variations on transmission, clinical features, and counter-measure effectiveness.

It also identified diagnostics, therapies, and immunizations that were underutilised.

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WHO has invited potential blood donors in the South-East Asia Region and throughout the world to “join the effort” to save lives, enhance health, and promote health equity by providing frequent, voluntary, unpaid blood donations on World Blood Donor Day. “An estimated 118.5 million blood donations are collected worldwide, of which about 40% are collected from high-income countries, home to only 16% of the world’s population,” says Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.

The bulk of blood transfusions in low-income countries are provided to children under the age of five and to address pregnancy-related problems, making frequent donations by unpaid volunteers a key weapon in the battle against maternal, neonatal, and child mortality.”

“An estimated 2 million more units of blood from voluntary unpaid donors are urgently needed in the Region to help patients of all ages live longer and with a higher quality of life, to support complex medical and surgical procedures, and to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), health system resilience, and Health for All,” Singh said.

According to the WHO Regional Director, throughout the COVID-19 response, countries in the Southeast Asian region have maintained the essential blood donation and transfusion services and also increased the quality of donor care, enhanced the clinical use of blood, and strengthened oversight and surveillance of the chain of blood transfusion.

She further said that all the donated blood was screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis, and more than 80 per cent is collected from voluntary unpaid donors.

From 2008 to 2018, the Region reported the highest proportional increase in voluntary unpaid blood donations among all WHO regions and the second-highest increase in absolute numbers.

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Singh further emphasized national action plans for blood donation, she said that several priorities require attention.

The first group consists of policymakers and programme managers. They should reassess and, where necessary, revise national blood action plans, while generating enough and dependable funding to implement them.

“Second, health facility administrators and managers should strengthen health worker capacity to properly collect, store, and give blood and blood products, developing a quality culture that includes all components of the blood transfusion chain.” She stated

“Third, authorities should standardise data collecting and reporting, as well as put in place standardised mechanisms for traceability, surveillance, hemovigilance, and pharmacovigilance for both public and private sector providers. Program managers, educators, and civil society organisations should raise knowledge of the benefits of frequent blood donation, particularly among young people, who should be encouraged to make blood donation a habit “Regional Office of WHO, Director added.

Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh also urged data collecting and blood donation awareness.

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According to new WHO estimates, the total death toll related directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 was roughly 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million).

“These sobering statistics not only highlight the pandemic’s impact but also highlight the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems that can sustain essential health services during crises, including stronger health information systems,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “The World Health Organization is committed to collaborating with all countries to strengthen their health information systems in order to generate better data for better decisions and outcomes.”

Excess mortality is computed as the difference between the number of fatalities that have happened and the number that would be predicted if the pandemic had not occurred based on data from previous years.

“Excess mortality includes deaths caused directly by COVID-19 (as a result of the disease) or indirectly (as a result of the pandemic’s influence on health systems and society.” Deaths associated with COVID-19 indirectly are attributable to various health issues for which individuals were unable to receive preventive and treatment due to the pandemic’s overburdening of health systems, according to a news release issued by the WHO.

The projected number of additional deaths may also be impacted by deaths avoided during the pandemic as a result of decreased risks of specific occurrences like motor vehicle accidents or occupational injuries.

The majority of the extra fatalities (84%) occur in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Sixty-eight percent of all excess deaths occur in just ten countries around the world.Middle-income countries account for 81% of the 14.9 million extra deaths over the 24-month period (53% in lower-middle-income countries and 28% in upper-middle-income countries), with high-income and low-income countries accounting for 15% and 4%, respectively.

Excess mortality is broken down by age and gender in the estimates over a 24-month period (2020 and 2021). They confirm that the worldwide mortality toll was greater for males than females (57% male, 43% female) and higher among older people.

The absolute number of extra fatalities is influenced by population size. The number of extra fatalities per 100,000 people provides a more impartial view of the epidemic than the COVID-19 mortality statistics.

“Excess mortality must be measured in order to fully comprehend the pandemic’s impact.” Changes in mortality patterns offer decision-makers with knowledge that may be used to design policies that reduce mortality and successfully avert future catastrophes. Because many countries have made little investments in data systems, the full degree of excess mortality is frequently disguised. “Dr. Samira Asma, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics, and Delivery, agreed.” “These revised projections are based on the best available data and were created using a robust methodology and a totally transparent approach.”

Every day, data serves as the cornerstone for our mission to promote health, keep the globe safe, and protect the disadvantaged. We know where the data gaps are, and we must collectively increase our support to countries so that every country can track outbreaks in real time, ensure the delivery of essential health services, and protect population health. ” Dr. Ibrahima Soce Fall, Assistant Director-General for Emergency Response, made the statement.

These estimates are the outcome of a worldwide effort, which was aided by the work of the Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 Mortality Assessment and national consultations.

This committee, organised jointly by the WHO and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), is made up of several of the world’s finest specialists who devised an innovative approach for generating comparative mortality estimates even when data is partial or missing.

This technique has proven useful since many nations still lack accurate mortality surveillance capability and, as a result, do not collect and create the data required to compute excess mortality. Countries can develop or update their own estimations using the publicly accessible methodology and their own data.

“The United Nations system is working together to deliver an authoritative assessment of the global toll of lives lost from the pandemic.” “This work is an important part of UN DESA’s ongoing collaboration with WHO and other partners to improve global mortality estimates,” said Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

Stefan Schweinfest, Director of UN DESA’s Statistics Division, added: “Data shortages make determining the full magnitude of a disaster difficult, with major ramifications for people’s lives. The epidemic has served as a sharp reminder of the need for improved data system coordination within nations, as well as enhanced international funding for the development of stronger systems, including the recording of deaths and other critical occurrences.”

Noting that demand for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani formulations is increasing internationally as a result of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted five priorities for the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine on Tuesday, including the use of technology to develop a traditional medicine library.

The Prime Minister remarked today, while laying the groundwork for the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, that India’s traditional medicine system is more than just therapy; it is a comprehensive science of life. The Prime Minister stated that an individual’s ultimate objective should be to achieve wellbeing, and while keeping disease-free is vital, the ultimate goal must be wellness.

He stated that there is a growing worldwide demand for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani formulations since many nations rely on traditional medicine to combat the epidemic. Yoga is also becoming increasingly popular across the world.

He stated that yoga is proven to be extremely beneficial in the battle against ailments such as diabetes, obesity, and depression. Yoga also assists people in lowering mental strain and achieving mind-body-consciousness equilibrium.

The Prime Minister established five objectives for the new centre.

First, utilising technology, GCTM can construct a database of traditional knowledge systems; second, GCTM can develop worldwide standards for testing and certification of traditional medicines, increasing trust in these treatments.

Third, the GCTM should expand into a forum where world specialists in traditional medicine may gather and exchange their knowledge. He also requested that the centre look into the potential of holding an annual traditional medicine festival.

Fourth, the GCTM should raise funds for traditional medical research and establish guidelines for the holistic treatment of certain diseases so that patients may benefit from both traditional and contemporary medicine.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the GCTM in the presence of Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus (WHO).

The GCTM will be the world’s first and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine. It will become a worldwide wellness destination on a global scale.

Prime Minister Modi stated that the World Health Organization’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine will not only provide the greatest medical answers to the world, but will also usher in a new age for traditional medicine.

Through this centre for traditional medicine, WHO has formed a new collaboration with India. “This complements and expands on the contribution and potential of conventional therapies,” he stated.

The Prime Minister is in Gujarat for three days. Earlier in the day, PM Modi dedicated to the nation a new dairy complex an potato processing plant built at a cost of over Rs. 600 crores in Diyodar, Banaskantha district.

No impact on efficacy and safety of Covaxin says Bharat Biotech after WHO suspension

Following the World Health Organization’s suspension of the COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN from its Covax facility, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech released a clarification on Sunday stating that there is “no impact on the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN.” “For the millions who have received COVAXIN, the vaccination certificates provided remain valid since there is no influence on the efficacy and safety of the vaccine,” Bharat Biotech said in response to the WHO suspension.

The vaccine producer has also stated that the corporation is slowing down Covaxin manufacturing in order to optimize the facility.

According to the statement, “For the foreseeable future, the business will prioritize pending facility maintenance, process, and facility optimization initiatives.”

“These modifications were overdue since all existing facilities had been repurposed for the manufacture of COVAXIN, with continuous production throughout the previous year to meet the public health emergency of COVID-19. During the COVID-19 epidemic, certain extremely complex technologies needed to improve process stringency were unavailable. It should be noted that the quality of COVAXIN was never jeopardized at any point in time, “it was added

The business also stated that they are working on additional enhancements and updates to guarantee that COVAXIN manufacturing continues to fulfill the growing worldwide regulatory standards.

Despite this strong safety and efficacy record, Bharat Biotech is working hard to make additional enhancements and modifications to guarantee that COVAXIN manufacturing meets ever-increasing worldwide regulatory criteria. Because patient safety is the most important priority for every new vaccination, there can be no compromises when it comes to fulfilling operational excellence goals, “it stated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stopped Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, from its Covax facility, the UN health organization stated on Saturday, citing inadequacies in manufacturing processes.

The WHO confirmed the suspension of the supply of COVAXIN made by Bharat Biotech through UN procurement agencies and recommended that countries that received the vaccine take necessary steps, the WHO said in a statement.

However, the UN organization stressed that there will be no difficulties with a vaccine’s safety and efficacy.

To date, there has been no change in the risk-benefit ratio based on the risk assessment. The data are available to the WHO suggests that the vaccination is efficacious and that there are no safety concerns. Countries should refer to the respective SAGE guidelines for the continuation of immunization with alternate sources of COVID-19 vaccines. ” It was written.

During the recent WHO post-EUL inspection, Bharat Biotech agreed with the WHO team on the scope of the proposed improvement actions and indicated that they would be implemented as soon as practicable, Bharat Biotech said.

“It does not imply a change in the risk-benefit ratio (for COVAXIN), and the evidence available to WHO confirms that the vaccine is efficacious and there are no safety concerns,” it stated.

This suspension came as a result of the WHO post-emergency use listing examination, which took place between March 14 and March 22. Following the suspension, there will be a disruption in the supply of Covaxin for export.

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