The World Bank approved US$400 million in additional financing for the Tunisia COVID-19 Social Protection Emergency Response Support Project which aims to help about 900,000 vulnerable Tunisian households, or 30% of the total population, to cope with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. This additional financing will continue to provide cash transfers to poor and low-income households while strengthening Tunisia’s social protection system. The main purpose is to scale up … [Read more...] about World Bank approves US$400 million financing to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Tunisia
New WHO/ILO guide urges greater safeguards to protect health workers
The World Health Organization (WHO) and The International Labour Organization (ILO) have published a new guide on developing and implementing stronger occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert great pressure on them. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an additional heavy toll on health workers and demonstrated dangerous neglect of their health, safety and wellbeing. More than one-in-three health facilities lack hygiene stations at … [Read more...] about New WHO/ILO guide urges greater safeguards to protect health workers
WHO updates its guidance for booster doses and vaccination in children
The World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has updated its guidance for booster doses and vaccination in children in light of increasing vaccine supply and coverage, emerging evidence and the evolving epidemiological situation of COVID-19. The revised SAGE Roadmap for Prioritizing Uses Of COVID-19 Vaccines, originally issued in October 2020, identifies four categories of priority-use groups, based on the risk of disease and social … [Read more...] about WHO updates its guidance for booster doses and vaccination in children
UK: Councils in England to receive £53.9 billion in funding
The government of the United Kingdom has announced that Councils in England will receive £53.9 billion in funding for the coming financial year, including more than £1 billion of additional funding for social care. The comprehensive package represents the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding for 10 years and makes an extra £3.5 billion available compared to 2021-22, including a grant worth £822 million for councils to spend as they see fit to best meet local needs. The funding set … [Read more...] about UK: Councils in England to receive £53.9 billion in funding
Number of Asia-Pacific’s hungry people rises by more than 50 million since the arrival of COVID
According to a joint report just published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the state of food security and nutrition in Asia and the Pacific has worsened, as more than 375 million people in the region faced hunger in 2020, an increase of 54 million over the previous year. While hunger has increased, so too has inadequate access to nutritious foods. According to the 2021 Asia and the Pacific Regional … [Read more...] about Number of Asia-Pacific’s hungry people rises by more than 50 million since the arrival of COVID
COVID-19 cases tripled in the Americas in 2021, but millions now protected due to vaccine
While COVID-19 infections tripled in 2021 and health systems struggled to cope, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne urged, “we have learned what it takes to bring this virus under control, and must urgently address gaps in vaccine access to ensure everyone is protected.” The Director said in a media briefing: “When we compare 2020 to 2021, this year was undoubtedly worse, with more than 98 million infections and 2.3 million lives lost.” As the second year of … [Read more...] about COVID-19 cases tripled in the Americas in 2021, but millions now protected due to vaccine
GISAID partners with WHO to organize training workshops for laboratory experts
With the COVID-19 pandemic progressing, genomic surveillance, conducted in an efficient way, is essential to inform us of circulating viruses and response measures required. The sequencing of representative samples continuously collected in a standardized approach from patients meeting influenza-like illness, acute respiratory infection, and severe acute respiratory infection case definitions, allows us to monitor the evolving trends and relative proportions of existing and emerging genetic … [Read more...] about GISAID partners with WHO to organize training workshops for laboratory experts
Moderna and Gavi reach agreement for additional supply to COVAX
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has announced that it reached an agreement to access an additional 150 million doses of the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 manufactured by Moderna, to be made available to COVAX at their lowest global tiered price. This amendment to the existing advance purchase agreement (APA) between Gavi and Moderna means a total of up to 650 million doses of the Moderna vaccine could be available to COVAX participants through 2021 and 2022. As part of an urgent call for … [Read more...] about Moderna and Gavi reach agreement for additional supply to COVAX
Up to €364 million Financial Support for businesses hit by Covid in Lithuania
The Lithuanian Ministry of Finance and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have announced substantial new support for Lithuanian SMEs in the context of the Pan-European Guarantee Fund (EGF). Guarantee agreements with five Lithuanian financial intermediaries will make available up to an additional €364 million in new financing for businesses dealing with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to capped and uncapped guarantees with Faktoro, Finora Kreditas, PayRay Bank, Orion … [Read more...] about Up to €364 million Financial Support for businesses hit by Covid in Lithuania
$250 million Financial Aid to boost COVID-19 vaccine supply in Philippines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $250 million financing to help the Philippine government secure additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine supply to boost the health security of Filipinos and ensure a safe and steady economic recovery. The assistance will allow the government to purchase 40 million additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines for eligible children and booster shots for adults. ADB Principal Social Sector Specialist for Southeast Asia Sakiko Tanaka, said: “The … [Read more...] about $250 million Financial Aid to boost COVID-19 vaccine supply in Philippines
