WHO and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) co-chaired on the 3rd of February an emergency Health Cluster Meeting on Novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The meeting aimed to inform the partners on country preparedness regarding the current global situation of COVID-19.
The event was attended by 41 representatives from Directorate General of Health Services, UN agencies, Donor agencies, Department of Disaster Management, National and International NGOs.
Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General, DGHS informed that his institution will send guidelines to all Civil Surgeons for conducting local level orientation sessions to enhance preparedness and response towards COVID-19. He also provided information about preparations for managing possible quarantined passengers at Ashkona Hazz Camp, where all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure proper isolation.
Dr Hammam El Sakka, Team Leader, WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme pointed out different aspects of country’s preparedness to detect and respond to the Novel coronavirus, emphasizing laboratory capacity- WHO provided to Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) laboratory supplies and reagents, surveillance, risk communication and preparations at points of entry. Dr El Sakka further stressed out the importance of surveillance for case detection and for limiting human to human transmission, as strategic objectives for response.
Health cluster partners offered their support to the DGHS for development of risk communication materials and distribution of messages through their networks of volunteers and suggested for this purpose the formation of a task force under the leadership of IEDCR.
Furthermore, the partner organizations extended their support to the Government by offering to provide, if requested by DGHS, additional Personal Protection Equipment, infection prevention and control expertise, support help to develop guidelines, contact tracing or case management.
Director General encouraged all partners to enhance the coordination to timely share information and resources for proper detection and response to the new global health threat.
