The Coronavirus, COVID-19 has laid bare the fragility of many health care systems across the world. Coronavirus cases have surpassed 27 million leaving health care systems worldwide heavily bombarded with patients suffering from the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to use the pandemic as a driver for sustainable development in primary health care systems. Director General at the World Health Organization, Dr. TedrosGhebreyesus said this should be prioritized as this will not be the last health pandemic to wreak havoc across the world.
In Jamaica, the virus was detected in early March and within 25 weeks the country’s health system is now showing signs of strain as they attempt to service COVID-19 patients and regular health services. Dr. Tedros says countries that have been able to effectively manage the outbreak have used the lessons gained from past outbreaks to build robust health care systems.
The damaging effects of the pandemic have been devastating but the Director-General has shared an unexpected benefit. He points out that air pollution has significantly reduced in some parts of the world.
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