Monkeypox

The deliberations and scrutiny of the WHO's response to the outbreak follows concerns over how the United Nations agency and governments worldwide handled Covid-19 in early 2020. A "public health emergency of international concern" is WHO's highest level of alert. The agency does not declare pandemics, but it did start using the term to describe Covid-19 in March 2020. For many governments, that - rather than WHO's earlier declaration of an emergency in January - was the moment they began to take real action to try to contain Covid, which proved to be too late to make a difference. Monkeypox does not spread nearly as easily as Covid and there are vaccines and treatments available, unlike for the coronavirus when it emerged. But it has still raised alarm. The case count from the current outbreak outside of Africa has topped 3,000 in more than 40 countries, according to a Reuters tally - largely among men who have sex with men - since it was first reported in May. There have been … [Read more...] about WHO eyes decision on monkeypox ’emergency’, Africa says it’s long overdue

Illustrative image. (Photo: Getty Images) She made the statement at a regular press briefing held in Hanoi while responding to reporters’ question on Vietnam's response to the risk of the monkeypox epidemic, which has been spreading around the world, including Singapore and the Republic of Korea. "Being aware of this issue and the need to protect people's safety, and with global cases of monkeypox continuing, the Ministry of Health has sent a document to relevant agencies and localities suggesting strengthened surveillance, prevention and early detection of cases at border gates and medical facilities, especially those returning from countries where the disease has been reported,” she said. Communication campaigns have been launched to raise people's awareness about the disease as well as prevention and control measures, Hang added. The Vietnamese press has continued to update information on disease prevention and control. Authorities will continue to coordinate with the … [Read more...] about No monkeypox cases recorded in Vietnam so far: Foreign Ministry

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting in Hanoi on June 23. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demanded the shortages of drugs and medical supplies and the resignation among health workers be promptly settled while chairing a meeting of the Government’s permanent members in Hanoi on June 23. Explaining the drug and medical supply shortages in some localities and central-level hospitals, the Ministry of Health (MoH) pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, whose serious impacts in 2020 and 2021 led to the scarcity of materials for production and surged prices and subsequently made it more difficult to purchase medicine and medical supplies . Notably, it noted, some localities and establishments are afraid that they may commit wrongdoings or undergo examination and inspection, so they didn’t dare to buy supplies. In addition, resignation among health workers in the public sector has increased, the MoH said, blaming that on low salaries … [Read more...] about PM requests prompt settlement of medical supply shortages, health workers’ resignation

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chaired a meeting on drugs supplies and human resoures for the healthcare sector on Thursday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính demanded that shortages of drugs and medical supplies and resignations among health workers be promptly settled while chairing a meeting of the Government’s permanent members in Hà Nội on Thursday afternoon. Explaining the drug and medical supply shortages in some localities and at central-level hospitals, the Ministry of Health (MoH) pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, whose serious impacts in 2020 and 2021 led to the scarcity of materials for production and surging prices and subsequently made it more difficult to purchase medicine and medical supplies. Notably, some localities and establishments were afraid that they may commit wrongdoings or undergo examination and inspection, so they didn’t dare buy supplies. In addition, resignations among health workers in the public … [Read more...] about PM requests prompt settlement of medical supply shortages, health worker resignations