Covid Romania, WHO Europe sends super expert to the country overwhelmed by the virus

The Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe takes the field alongside Romania, which in these days is facing a strong resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic. The UN health agency announces that it will increase support to the country in the fight against the infection, sending a senior expert with the mission to strengthen response activities at the national level and facilitate the supply of essential materials, including 34,000 rapid diagnostic tests and nearly 200 oxygen concentrators. This expanded technical support will cover key areas, from surveillance to clinical guidance, risk communication and community involvement, to vaccine launch. The expert sent is the American Heather Papowitz, with over 20 years of experience in programs for the management of health emergencies and catastrophe risk. Upon arrival, he will meet national counterparts and conduct field assessments, then work with health authorities to identify priorities and immediate actions to take, WHO Europe explains. The country is behind on the anti-Covid vaccination front: despite a good start for the vaccination campaign that started as in the rest of Europe in December 2020, to date less than 30% of the population has been fully vaccinated and the spread of the vaccine has stabilized . Experts are working to tackle this problem, with actions ranging from health care training to more effective communication strategies, after having better understood the reasons for low coverage in some population groups. “I am delighted to work with the Romanian authorities and key stakeholders to address the serious problem of low vaccine diffusion in the country – commented Papowitz – An urgent priority is to increase it among vulnerable groups, reduce the risk of hospitalization and death and alleviate the pressure on the health system “. And vaccination, WHO concludes, should be combined with anti-contagion measures.