Emerging lessons from COVID-19 --- The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed learning opportunities globally and nationally. It has shown that basic health care and supporting infrastructures need to be more accessible to all, especially minority groups and those living in remote areas. Public-Private partnerships and aid the reduction in the cost of health care.

Engaging citizens in health promotion is essential. The WHO outlines the following key policies and strategies for health promotion

Health promotion • Policies and interventions to address tobacco, alcohol, physical activity and diet (e.g., FCTC , DPAS , alcohol strategy and NCD best-buys) • Dietary and nutritional intervention should also appropriately tackle malnutrition, defined as a condition that arises from eating a diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess (too high in intake), or in the wrong proportions • Intersectoral policies and health services interventions to address mental health and substance abuse • Strategies to promote sexual and reproductive health, including through health education and increased access to sexual and reproductive health, and family planning services • Strategies to tackle domestic violence, including public awareness campaigns; treatment and protection of victims; and linkage with law enforcement and social services. (http://www.emro.who.int/about-who/public-health-functions/health-promotion-disease-prevention.html)

This module presents data that shows that persons with pre-existing conditions such as dietary and nutritional deficiencies and obesity among others were more severely affected by COVID-19.

Source author: Petal Punalall Jetoo pjetoo@gmail.com