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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Year : 2020  |  Volume : 9  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 296-297

Need of a concerted and sustained approach in the fight against corona virus disease-2019 pandemic


1 Member of the Medical Education Unit and Institute Research Council, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Submission16-Apr-2020
Date of Decision16-May-2020
Date of Acceptance21-May-2020
Date of Web Publication28-Jul-2020

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava
Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) – Deemed to be University, Tiruporur - Guduvancherry Main Road, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpaet District - 603 108, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijhas.IJHAS_51_20

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  Abstract 


The Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has produced extensive impact not only on the health sector, but also on the individuals, households, communities, and nations at large. The experience with the disease in the different parts of the world has given us the message that in order to minimize the spread of the infection, we should improve our capacities to correctly diagnose all cases, including mild and moderate cases, and ensure their isolation and provision of appropriate treatment. However, it is quite obvious that it cannot be done by the health sector in solitude, and will essentially necessitate the assistance from all the involved stakeholders, including the members of the community for developing a resilient health care delivery system. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the human life and the source of their livelihoods in a significant manner. Thus, the need of the hour is to implement a multi-sectoral approach promptly, which is unprecedented in nature and ensure provision of equitable care to all the sections of the community.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Community, Government, World Health Organization


How to cite this article:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Need of a concerted and sustained approach in the fight against corona virus disease-2019 pandemic. Int J Health Allied Sci 2020;9:296-7

How to cite this URL:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Need of a concerted and sustained approach in the fight against corona virus disease-2019 pandemic. Int J Health Allied Sci [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 28];9:296-7. Available from: https://www.ijhas.in/text.asp?2020/9/3/296/290720




  Introduction Top


The corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has produced extensive impact not only on the health sector but also on the individuals, households, communities, and nations at large. In terms of the magnitude of the disease, the global tally has increased to 1,914,916 cases and 123,010 deaths since the emergence of the disease in the Wuhan city of China.[1] At the same time, due to the imposed social distancing measures, the daily routines of people have changed, while the national economy has fallen and people are finding it extremely tough to respond to the unprecedented strains of the novel viral infection. COVID-19 infection is able to produce such impact because of the rapid spread (reported in 213 nations and territories), sudden rise in the number of cases, and high case fatality rate as 20% of the reported cases are either severe or critical in nature.[1],[2]


  Need for Capacity Building Top


The experience with the disease in the different parts of the world has given us the message that in order to minimize the spread of the infection, we should improve our capacities to correctly diagnose all cases, including mild and moderate cases, and ensure their isolation and provision of appropriate treatment.[2],[3] This is required as we are aiming to prevent the development of clusters of cases from a single case, as there is a very high risk of major outbreaks from these clusters, which can overwhelm the health system of any nation. Moreover, we have to suppress the community transmission of the cases and this can be attained by the implementation of context-specific infection prevention and control measures, including physical distancing and restrictions on domestic and international travel.[3],[4]


  Adoption of a Multi-Sectoral Approach Top


However, it is quite obvious that it cannot be done by the health sector in solitude, and will essentially necessitate the assistance from all the involved stakeholders, including the members of the community for developing a resilient health-care delivery system.[4] In other words, each and every one of us has a clearly specified role in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. At the individual level, we have to adopt healthy behaviors such as frequent hand washing, adhering to respiratory hygiene, avoid touching face-mouth-nose, practice social distancing, not to spread wrong information, delaying unnecessary travel, and staying indoors.[2],[3],[4],[5] From the societal perspective, they have to play an important role in safeguarding vulnerable population groups, not stigmatize cases, aid health-care personnel in contact tracing, and neither organize nor participate in social gatherings.[2]

The private sector has an important role to play in the containment of the disease through strengthening the food supply chain, allowing employees to work from home, and improve the supply of the required equipment and logistics (such as diagnostic kits, personal protective equipment, ventilators, development of a vaccine, or a potential therapeutic option through strengthening of the research activities).[4] The role of the government is to ensure utmost coordination between all the stakeholders and to empower the community about the different aspects of the disease through educating them. In addition, the government has to take steps for the outbreak readiness, in terms of increasing the number of beds available, enhancing the number of laboratories permitted to conduct tests, establish facilities for isolation or quarantine, strengthen risk communication and community engagement activities, implement social distancing measures, etc.[2],[4],[5]


  Conclusion Top


In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the human life and the source of their livelihoods in a significant manner. Thus, the need of the hour is to implement a multisectoral approach promptly, which is unprecedented in nature and ensure provision of equitable care to all the sections of the community.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
World Health Organization. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 86. World Health Organization; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200415-sitrep-86-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=c615ea20_2. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 16].  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
World Health Organization. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019nCoV): Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. Geneva: World Health Organization Press; 2020. p. 1-20.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Mahase E. Covid-19: UK starts social distancing after new model points to 260 000 potential deaths. BMJ 2020;368:m1089.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
World Health Organization. COVID19 Strategy Update. Geneva: World Health Organization Press; 2020. p. 1-6.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Minimizing the risk of international spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak by targeting travelers. J Acute Dis 2020;9:47-8.  Back to cited text no. 5
  [Full text]  



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