By Haruna Gimba
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said at least 115,000 health and care workers have died from the COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019.
Speaking at the opening of the 74th World Health Assembly, WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended the sacrifices made by health workers around the world to battle the pandemic.
“For almost 18 months, health and care workers all over the world have stood in the breach between life and death. They have saved countless lives and fought for others who, despite their best efforts, slipped away.
“Many have themselves become infected, and while reporting is scant, we estimate that at least 115,000 health and care workers have paid the ultimate price in the service of others.”
Ghebreyesus said while healthcare workers do heroic things, they are not superheroes and they are humans just like everyone.
“Many feel frustrated, helpless and unprotected, with a lack of access to personal protective equipment and vaccines, and the tools to save lives.
“We owe them so much, and yet globally health and care workers often lack the protection, the equipment, the training, the decent pay, the safe working conditions and the respect they deserve.
“If we have any hope of achieving a healthier, safer, fairer future, every Member State must protect and invest in its health and care workforce as a matter of urgency,” Ghebreyesus said.
He, however, urged every country to consider two draft resolutions on the health workforce and take action on them.
“Just as health and care workers are the lifeblood of every health system, so the lifeblood of WHO is its staff – the incredible people all over the world, I am honoured to call my colleagues, in country and regional offices, and here at headquarters,” the WHO chief noted.
