  The 30%t of
people living with HIV are avoiding seeking care and
antiretroviral medications are in limited supply.
- A.M. Costa Rica wire services illustrative photo. |
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 Published Thursday, August 13, 2020 Covid-19
threatens containment of
other infectious diseases, says PAHO By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services The pandemic of covid-19, which has killed over 390,000 people in the Americas, is threatening regional plans to eliminate and control infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB), HIV, hepatitis and others, said Carissa F. Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). According to the international public health agency, with more than 10.5 million cases of covid-19 in the Americas and 100,000 new cases being reported every day, countries can’t delay the fight against covid-19, "but we must not let covid-19 delay us in completing our unfinished agenda of eliminating and controlling infectious diseases from our region." Challenges in delivering TB treatments during the pandemic were reported by 80 percent of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, which could turn manageable cases of TB into active infections. Similarly, 30 percent of people living with HIV are avoiding seeking care and antiretroviral medications are in limited supply. Disruptions in hepatitis screenings, key for detection and treatment, were also reported by a third of the countries. The PAHO Director recalled that preventing and treating infectious diseases was the impetus for creating the Pan American Health Organization nearly 120 years ago and the Region remains “at the forefront of the elimination of infectious diseases.” In October 2019, PAHO’s Member States committed to a region-wide approach to the elimination of more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030. But “the progress to achieving this milestone is now under threat, due to the burden of covid-19 on health systems, and the disruption of essential services, including priority disease control programs, elimination initiatives and routine immunization,” the PAHO director said. The pandemic also interrupted mass drug administration campaigns that are vital to elimination efforts “just as we were making significant progress against neglected tropical diseases, like lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiases,” she said. Dengue and malaria remain a huge burden on health services and, like covid-19, have a disproportionate impact on poor and vulnerable populations, including indigenous communities. PAHO’s director said, “in the first two months of 2020 the Americas reported a 139% increase in dengue cases when compared to the same period in 2019. However, since covid-19 hit our region in March, reported cases of dengue fever have actually fallen.” Reporting of mosquito borne diseases, like malaria, is down more than 40%, and there has been an observed reduction in the number of people getting tested. "So we know that these data don’t tell the full story,” she said. Our doctors, nurses and staff must have the protective equipment, supplies and technologies they need to safely offer care so patients can continue to receive the medical attention and the medications they need to safely manage their conditions, she said. PAHO is an international public health agency, part of the United Nations, working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas ----------------------------- Have you heard of cases of diseases increasing in your community, besides the covid-19? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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