Civilians bear brunt in ‘catastrophic’ Lebanon conflict, UN official says
Beirut, Lebanon Reuters Civilians are bearing the brunt of a “truly catastrophic” situation in Lebanon, a senior UN official said, urging respect for the rules of war nearly two weeks since Israel launched a major offensive against the armed group Hezbollah. With around a million people in Lebanon impacted, Imran Riza, UN Resident and Humanitarian […]
Exodus of healthcare workers from poor countries worsening, WHO says
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters Poorer countries are increasingly losing healthcare workers to wealthier ones as the latter seek to shore up their own staff losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes through active recruitment, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. The trend for nurses and other staff to leave parts of Africa or South-East Asia for […]
China sends military, doctors to Shanghai to test 26 million residents for COVID
Shanghai, China Reuters China has sent the military and thousands of healthcare workers into Shanghai to help carry out COVID-19 tests for all of its 26 million residents as cases continued to rise on Monday, in one of the country’s biggest-ever public health responses. Some residents woke up before dawn for white-suited healthcare workers to […]
Pope hails healthcare workers as heroes for COVID service
Vatican City AP Pope Francis on Sunday hailed healthcare workers as heroes for their service every day, not just during the pandemic, asking the public in St Peter’s Square to join with him in applause. Francis clapped his hands in what he said was a “great thank you” for health workers, including volunteers, who care for […]
Coming to a clinic near you: Kenya’s COVID-19 vaccine drive gets a boost
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Now that rich nations are sharing more COVID-19 shots with Africa, health officials across the continent are scrambling to overcome vaccine hesitancy and logistical problems to get the doses into arms fast enough before they expire. Penda Health, a Nairobi-based chain providing low-cost private healthcare, has found a way to speed things […]
Climate action at COP26 could save millions of lives, WHO says
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The World Health Organization and about three-quarters of global healthcare workers on Monday called on governments to step up climate action at the COP26 global climate conference, saying it could save millions of lives a year. The UN health agency’s report on climate change and health calls for transformational action in every […]
Each COVID-19 surge poses a risk for healthcare workers: PTSD
Los Angeles, US Reuters Nurse Chris Prott’s knees jump, his heart races, his mouth goes dry and his mind floods with dark memories when he talks about working in the Milwaukee VA Medical Center’s intensive care unit during pandemic surges. Prott shares a struggle common to many of the military veterans for whom he has […]
India, Mexico top list of coronavirus-related attacks on health workers
Mexico City, Mexico Thomson Reuters Foundation One-third out of almost 1,200 attacks on health workers globally last year were related to COVID-19, a coalition of healthcare experts said on Tuesday, with staff being beaten and doused with hot coffee by people fearful of coronavirus infection. India had the highest number of coronavirus-related attacks, with 128 […]
On India’s COVID-19 frontline, female health workers push for fair pay
Mumbai, India Thomson Reuters Foundation Rushing from one home to another in a village in western India, health worker Ashwini Mhaske cannot afford to take a breather. Working to keep COVID-19 at bay while caring for mothers and babies, Mhaske races between households to meet job targets and earn bonuses for a average monthly wage […]
Fear, rumours lead to hundreds of attacks on COVID-19 responders
Dakar, Senegal Thomson Reuters Foundation Healthcare workers fighting coronavirus in dozens of countries are facing violence from fearful communities who have attacked doctors and burned down clinics, aid agencies said on Tuesday. In Colombia, ambulances were blocked from entering a town to screen for COVID-19 cases, said the International Committee of the Red Cross, […]