Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 20, 2020 News
The Pan American Health Organization has noted its support for the Public Health Ministry to conduct a wider scope of surveillance, in wake of an increase of COVID -19 cases countrywide.
In this regard, Pan American Health Organisation /World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) country representative to Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow explained that the international health organizations have been pushing for contact tracing initiatives to be implemented as a more effective method of addressing issues of COVID -19 in the Regions of the Americas – of which Guyana is included.
Adu-Krow said that a case for contact –tracing was presented to Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) — the committee which is directly responsible for the testing and monitoring COVID-19, across the ten administrative regions.
According to him, while the HEOC agrees with the recommendations for more follow -up surveillance specifically contact-tracing of coronavirus cases, the initiative will require a more intense strategic and investigative approach.
Dr. Adu-Krow noted however the local health sector is faced with a limitation in this regard.
“What is happening is that most of the frontline health workers are currently occupied in some way or the other in the efforts to beat COVID-19, so there are fewer people available to train,” he explained.
The official also noted that while health officials have been able to conduct surveillance of confirmed cases to a certain degree; a national response team is needed for contact -tracing activities across the country.
Adu Krow stressed nonetheless that the unavailability of personnel should not be viewed as a hindrance implementing the initiative.
“We understand the limitations but this should not stop those in charge from reaching out to retired nurses, community health workers, and even security personnel and have them trained to do the job,” Adu –Krow added while noting that PAHO is ready to provide technical and other support for the contact- tracing initiative.
Earlier this year, PAHO released a document recommending the implementation and management of contact tracing for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Region of the Americas.
In the context of COVID-19, the document is intended to complement the interim guidance by WHO on contact-tracing.
The document which incorporates WHO recommendations as well as those from other international agencies and public health institutions aims to provide guidance for implementing contact- tracing for COVID-19 in the Americas.
By definition, contact tracing, also referred to as contact investigation, is the identification, monitoring, and support of the individuals (contacts) who have been exposed to the patient and possibly infected themselves.
This process prevents further transmission of the disease by separating people who have (or may have) an infectious disease from people who do not which includes asking cases to isolate and contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily.
Contact tracing is regarded globally, as an effective disease control strategy to identify cases and their contacts to then work with them to interrupt disease transmission. As such, the technique is listed by PAHO/WHO as a key strategy to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
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