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Providing Technical Support and Essential Supplies: Asia Pacific Strategy For Emerging Diseases (APSED)

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since spread to over 20 other countries including the Philippines. The WHO is working closely with governments and the Department of Health to contain the outbreak through increasing preparedness, providing technical support and supplies, and strengthening laboratory testing capacity. Initial cases were reported in the Philippines in late January, and local transmission was confirmed in early March. The WHO is supporting risk communication efforts and advising on protective measures.

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78 views2 pages

Providing Technical Support and Essential Supplies: Asia Pacific Strategy For Emerging Diseases (APSED)

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since spread to over 20 other countries including the Philippines. The WHO is working closely with governments and the Department of Health to contain the outbreak through increasing preparedness, providing technical support and supplies, and strengthening laboratory testing capacity. Initial cases were reported in the Philippines in late January, and local transmission was confirmed in early March. The WHO is supporting risk communication efforts and advising on protective measures.

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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new strain of

coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in
Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

On 30 January 2020, the Philippine Department of Health reported the first case of
COVID-19 in the country with a 38-year-old female Chinese national. On 7 March, the
first local transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed. WHO is working closely with the
Department of Health in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On 31 December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause was first


reported from Wuhan, China. It was later established to be a new coronavirus. The
disease, now named as coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been confirmed in 24
countries outside of China including the Philippines. The World Health Organization
(WHO) has been working with governments to build preparedness and response
capacities in countries to contain the outbreak and prepare for possible community
transmission.

In the Western Pacific Region, these efforts are coordinated by Regional Director Dr
Takeshi Kasai and are aligned to the principles contained in the Asia Pacific Strategy for
Emerging Diseases (APSED).  In the Philippines, WHO has been working with the
Department of Health and other national stakeholders and partners to increase its
preparedness to address COVID-19, including the possibility of wider transmission.

Providing technical support and essential supplies


WHO recently mobilized its global stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) to
support priority countries in their preparedness efforts. Initial stocks were handed over
today to the Department of Health for the use of health workers. The PPEs comprised of
masks, examination gloves, respirators, isolation gowns and other equipment that will
help protect frontline health workers as they diagnose and treat patients.

Strengthening laboratory capacities


WHO supported the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) to enable
performing of diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in country through the delivery of
reagents and chemicals. RITM can now release confirmatory results within 24-48 hours
of receiving samples. Prior to this, samples were being sent to a reference laboratory in
Australia. Last year, WHO provided polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment to
RITM so they can run different tests not only for COVID-19 but other infectious diseases
such as HIV, polio, influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infections.

With the leadership of the Department of Health, WHO is supporting them on planning and
messaging to communicate the risks and engage the public on COVID-19. A variety of materials
has been released including advice for the public on protective measures and the proper use of
mask. WHO has also been at the side of DOH in briefing the media on the latest updates and
technical advice on COVID-19 in the Philippines.

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