2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers by the World Health Organization (WHO) in appreciation and gratitude for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and to highlight the key role of human resources for health in society's ability to care for the health of its citizens at the global level. This campaign focuses on paid health and care workers..
The Region of the Americas is participating in this campaign, under the theme "PROTECT. INVEST. TOGETHER", which highlights the urgent need to increase investment in and protection for health and care workers as a tangible way of recognizing their role. Access to universal health requires investment and protection at all times, not only during health emergencies, as this type of investment pays off generously in terms of health, employment, and economic and social opportunities. We must all, therefore, commit to ensuring safe and decent working conditions for our health and care workers, and to protecting their health, including their mental health.
The campaign calls emphatically for greater efforts to PROTECTand INVEST in health and care workers to achieve Universal Health. Only TOGETHER can we make this vision a reality.
Encourage greater investment by governments in health and care workers to ensure safe and decent working conditions.
Protect health and care workers as essential components for the continuity and sustainability of health care and health services.
Invest in training and improve employment and working conditions to ensure quality care for the population.
Transmit the community’s recognition and appreciation for the dedication and efforts of health and care workers in addressing health needs.
Webinar and publication launch: "Contributions of nursing and midwifery professionals to women's health: Stories provided by countries in the Region of the Americas"
Launch of "State of the World's Midwifery (SOWM) Report" and webinar on nursing and midwifery contributions to women's health
Publication: Contributions of nursing and midwifery professionals to women's health - Reports from the Region of the Americas (Available in Spanish. The English and Portuguese versions coming soon)
Infographic: Situation of nursing in the Region of the Americas (only in Spanish)
Video: PAHO Collaborating Center for Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Perspectives and contributions of nursing to the promotion of universal health.
The future of medical education in the Region of the Americas - 7 April
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Launch of "WHO Virtual Academy" as a tribute to health workers
Launch: "Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery"
"Working for Health"
"State of the World's Midwifery report"
Meeting of State and civil society actors: solidarity, advocacy, and support for health and care workers (sponsored by Brazil)
Response to the pandemic based on progress of the Plan of Action on Human Resources for Universal Health
Documentary on health and care workers during the pandemic: a tribute to health workers who died of COVID-19 at work (sponsored by Brazil)
Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health
Brittany Baptise is a nurse at the Scarborough General Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean. Today is her day off and she smiles as she describes how nervous she was when she learned that she would be working in an intensive care unit (ICU) to treat COVID-19 patients.
"I was a bit fearful because, coming from the medical ward, we didn’t really know the rules and function of an ICU. I had no formal training, I had little knowledge about how the ventilator works, the settings and these things.”
By the end of September 2020, Brittany was trained and working in the ICU with new skills and competencies to offer as part of an integrated team of health professionals. She was one of a cadre of 82 nurses across 7 Caribbean countries to take part in a 4-week training course to learn new skills and competencies to work in ICUs.
Health Care Workers across the globe continue to go above and beyond the call of duty. In the Caribbean, the challenges are no different, the physical and mental affects, stigma and discrimination, fear of infection, and overall trying their best to keep it together. They show up everyday and put us first. This video feature shares stories of health care workers in the Eastern Caribbean and how they survive
Low vaccination coverage due to the pandemic forced health authorities to take key actions in the community
Health Services in Azángaro: A trek through rural Potosi