Global view of the double burden of disease in times of COVID-19
Two days ago it was World AIDS day 2020 and two months ago it was World Mental health Day 2020.
This post will be appointed to clarify the urge and emergency to take action for the burden of disease in respect to our entire blog. Especially in COVID-19 times this is of critical concern. Therefore, the WHO’s World Days 2020 will be further looked into.
On 1st December, the WHO raised awareness for HIV/AIDS and urged people to keep fighting against this disease. Moreover this day was to call on global leaders and citizens to rally for ‘global solidarity’ on HIV response in COVID times.
Partly because of COVID-19 the HIV response and 2020 targets (shown in figures below) are being stalled.
What impact does COVID-19 have on HIV response?
- For frontline health workers it is difficult and dangerous to deliver continuous, high-quality HIV services
- People with HIV have difficulties accessing services because of sickness and restrictions imposed on mobility due to COVID-19
- Economic disruption can cause HIV services to be unaffordable or unobtainable
- Supply chain and service delivery are being affected which means there is not enough medication for people in need.
- ➤ threatens people’s lives!
Actions of the WHO in COVID-19 times:
- Renew our targets to end HIV: invest and innovate health services with broader health care and pandemic response to achieve 2030 targets
- Ensure continued HIV care: multi-month prescription to protect the health of people with HIV and prevent overburdened health services
- Engage and protect our community health workers from HIV & COVID-19
- Prioritise the vulnerable: youth & key population (mentioned in previous post)
World mental health day 2020 was only 2 months ago on 10th October. This WHO campaign also needs a lot of attention as mental health is a major health threat and it is on the rise.
What impact does COVID-19 have on mental health?
- Fear, worry and stress for uncertainty or the unknown
- Change to daily life and restricted movements
- Disruption in 93% of countries worldwide of critical health services, while demand is increasing
- Even more underfunding of mental health
- Higher risk for neurological and mental complications
- ➤ threatens people’s lives!
Actions of the WHO in COVID-19 times:
- Provide guidance and advice for community of health workers and general public to help look after mental health
- Provide guidance to countries on how to maintain critical mental health services
- Recommend countries to allocate resources to mental health as an integral component of their response and recovery plans
- Urge countries to monitor changes and disruptions in services
By seeing recommendations of the WHO, we urge SEE countries to understand the severity of the problem and implement these recommendations in their own policies. As these recommendations are very general and our blog has specifically focused on HIV/AIDS and mental diseases in the SEE region, we will provide some recommendations which in our opinion, will be needed in countries especially for SEE countries next week.
