WHO Sends Medical Support to Syria, Turkey

The WHO is sending medical assistance to Syria and Turkey after the devastating earthquake. Mexico has also sent support to help rescue efforts. 

In local news, the authorities warn that mpox continues to spread but positive COVID-19 cases decrease. 

This is The Week in Health!

WHO Supports Victims in Syria, Turkey

On Feb. 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. It is estimated that over 11,000 people have died and thousands more are injured. To support both countries, the WHO is sending three charter flights with medical supplies, including major surgical trauma kits. It is also mobilizing emergency supplies and activating its network of emergency medical teams to provide essential healthcare for the injured and most vulnerable. Meanwhile, the Mexican government has sent 150 people to Turkey to help search and rescue efforts, as reported by MBN. “This is a moment when we must come together in solidarity, as one humanity, to save lives and alleviate the suffering of people who have already suffered so much,” says Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO.

PAHO, Mexican Health Institutes to Simply Healthcare Digitization

The National Center for Child and Adolescent Health (CENSIA) and the Oaxaca Vaccination Program will train health professionals in the use of electronic vaccination registries. The three-week program aims to increase the use of the Health Care Administration and Management Environment (AAMATES), which is used for the management of state vaccination services. The PAHO has closely collaborated with local health institutes to develop this program since 2021. “It is necessary to stimulate the use of the electronic nominal vaccination registry and strengthen efforts to increase vaccination coverage so that children in Oaxaca are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases,” says PAHO’s press release. Read the whole story on MBN.

Mpox Cases Continue to Rise in Mexico

In the last two weeks, authorities have reported 60 confirmed and 105 probable mpox cases in Mexico, according to the Ministry of Health. The positive cases are distributed in the 32 states. A total of 6,385 people have probable mpox cases and 3,828 cases have been confirmed. Mpox symptoms include fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes, according to WHO. Generally, the symptoms disappear by themselves but treatment can help to prevent further complications. Learn more about mpox here. 

Mexico Sees Less COVID-19 Cases 

For the fifth week in a row, COVID-19 cases continued to decline in Mexico. Meanwhile, the hospital occupancy of general beds for COVID-19 care decreased from 6% to 5%, while that of beds with mechanical ventilators remained at 2%, reported the Ministry of Health. While cases are reducing, Adhanom announced that the COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health emergency of international concern. “We cannot control the virus, but we can do more to address the vulnerabilities,” he highlights. As of Feb. 7, 2023, there have been 754.82 million confirmed cases globally. 

Mindfulness Leadership

There is no health without mental health, according to the WHO. In this sense, mindfulness is a tool that needs to be leveraged to increase awareness of emotions and thoughts, to cope with stress and even to become better leaders. With mindfulness, leaders can tackle difficult conversations more easily and handle criticism without flying completely off the handle, says César Augusto Marron, Director General, Cardinal Health. “Mindful leadership also leads to improved focus, higher-quality relationships, creative thinking and innovation. There are many science-backed ways that mindfulness can enhance your ability to lead and react to different situations,” says Marron. Learn how to implement mindful leadership here.