By Khalifa Hemed
Published May 10, 2020
As countries suspend cancer treatment and surgery to help hospitals manage an influx of COVID-19 patients, the World Health Organization of the United Nations warns that disruption of treatment and vaccination for preventable and curable illnesses could significantly increase mortality.
Consequently, the Commonwealth of Nations urges its 54 member Countries to maintain essential health care to non-COVID-19 patients while dealing with the pandemic.
RELATED: Make Movies, Not Excuses
“The spread of COVID-19 has brought home to us with greater immediacy the devastating impact that disease can have on every aspect of our lives,” says Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Health Ministers virtual meeting on May 14, 2020.“The global response to COVID-19 has been impressive, but let us not lose focus on other health threats which kill thousands daily and put millions more at risk.”
Authorities, she argues, “need to determine which health services ought to continue based on their local context and deploy whatever resources are available to deliver maximum treatment and care for all in need.”
RELATED: African Response Facility for COVID-19 Pandemic Created
Baroness Scotland’s call comes at a time when a study by Johns Hopkins University of the United States of America predicts that about one million women and children could die in the next six months because the pandemic is disrupting routine health services in low and middle-income countries.
Patricia Scotland said: “Even before the present pandemic, our Commonwealth focus has been on the priority of providing Universal Health Coverage, so that all citizens have access to essential health services without financial hardship. This is particularly important for pregnant women and young children, to avoid unnecessary mortality, and becomes even more so in mobilising healthcare resources in order to respond effectively to the pandemic.”
RELATED: Young Women Take to Using Sugar Daddies to Fund Their Lavish Lifestyles
As of May 7, 2020 COVID-19 has killed about 264,000 people. Based on the 2017 data, Covid-19 is far behind other diseases in terms of mortality, while heart disease and cancer were the leading cause of death globally killing nearly 18 and 10 million respectively.
“Over the past few months, countries across the world have implemented unprecedented measures to contain the spread of the infection at great economic and human costs. It is worthwhile, however, to reflect that existing diseases do not take a holiday,” says Kathleen McCourt, President of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation.
RELATED: Partnership to Strengthen Video-on-Demand Service Across Africa Announced
Health organisations have warned that COVID-19 could trigger a spike in malaria and measles cases as some vaccination and prevention measures are on hold.
“While our focus is on this pandemic and to put the infection and death rates from COVID-19 into a broader perspective, it is essential that governments do not neglect the major causes of death and disability in their countries, particularly those affecting the most vulnerable such as women and children,” says Prof McCourt.