Local Govt Forum

Amidst pandemic, now is the time for action to also beat tuberculosis, urges WHO UNDP/Aurélia Rusek A Somali refugee who was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2017 holds her chest x-ray in a camp in Djibouti where she lives with her family.         24 March 2020 Health As countries across the world grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Health agency reminded everyone on Tuesday, World Tuberculosis Day 2020, that TB remains the world’s most deadly infectious disease. According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), a quarter of the global population is estimated to be infected with TB bacteria. And even if there are no signs of sickness, those infected with TB already are at greater risk of developing the disease, especially those with weakened immune systems.  World Health Organization (WHO) ✔  ·  21 h Replying to @WHO Affordable and quick diagnosis is the first ste...

Coronavirus update: WHO and world football launch ‘kick out coronavirus’ campaign, as millions sign up to WhatsApp helpline WHO WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and FIFA President Gianni Infantino sign memorandum of understanding at WHO’s Geneva-based headquarters.         23 March 2020 Health A new awareness-raising campaign, led by the world’s top football stars, called ‘Pass the message to kick out coronavirus’, was launched on Monday by the UN health agency, WHO, and international football’s governing body, FIFA.  The campaign involves a video featuring many of the biggest names in football (soccer to those in the US), including Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, and former England team captain, and World Cup semi-finalist, Gary Lineker. FIFA President Gianni Infanti, said that the organization is calling on everyone to follow the  WHO ’s five key steps t...

Talking to your children about coronavirus: Let them know you’re listening, remind them you care © UNICEF/Meng Cui UNICEF offers tips on how to speak to your children about COVID-19.         17 March 2020 Health As many adults are overwhelmed and anxious about the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations shined a light on how children may be feeling and urged parents to have open, supportive discussions to help them cope. Amidst a deluge of information and with more and more people being confined to their homes, it is not surprising that children are also feeling anxious.  And although they might find it difficult to understand what they are seeing online or on television, the UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF )  points out  that “they can be particularly vulnerable to feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness”.  UNICEF offered tips on how to engage your child in a meaningful discussion on this d...

Coronavirus is accelerating a culture of no touching – here’s why that’s a problem March 17, 2020 2.01am AEDT   Cathrine Jansson-Boyd ,  Anglia Ruskin University Touch has profound benefits for human beings. But over the last few decades, people  have become  increasingly cautious about socially touching others for a range of reasons. With the novel coronavirus spreading, this is bound to get worse. People have already started  avoiding shaking hands . And the British queen was seen  wearing gloves as a precaution  not to contract the virus. The coronavirus could very well have long-term implications for how hands-on we are – reinforcing already existing perceptions that touch should be avoided. Why is touch so important? It helps us share how we feel about others, enhancing our verbal communication. A touch on the arm when comforting someone, for example, is often what shows that we really care. People benefit f...