COVID-19: longer term impacts on global health

En français Most of us are increasingly aware of the direct and immediate impact of COVID-19, even though it seems to behave differently from place to place and is dependent on so many factors. But we may be less aware of the longer-term implications of COVID, and how it is affecting global health. One reason…

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Facing COVID in a remote and resource-poor location

Em português, français When I got the government order towards the end of March telling us we were to be the sole designated COVID hospital for the whole district of Simdega, I felt my heart sink. I am the senior among three doctors in a small hospital called Shanti Bhavan Medical Centre in a village…

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The ‘other’ suffering caused by the coronavirus

Em português, français  The COVID-19 pandemic has been raging for over seven months now.  It has directly killed over 800,000 people and, indirectly, caused massive losses to people who are mostly unseen.  While I do not have the figures for this ‘collateral damage’, I have no doubt that it is many times more than the…

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‘Green zones’ for the vulnerable may be a cheap and effective option for preventing coronavirus spread in low-resource settings

En Français, Español, Português US and Western Europe have so far been the hardest hit by the coronavirus with over 80% of cases worldwide – but there’s good reason to think that the Developing World will ultimately suffer most.  According to a recent report, 40 million lives may be at risk this year (see my previous…

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The Developing World and not the West will bear the brunt of coronavirus – but acting quickly could save over 30 million lives this year

Em Português, русский With 80% of coronavirus deaths in Western Europe the focus of the world’s media has understandably been there. The UK had 260 deaths today and has had over 1,000 deaths overall. But COVID-19 is affecting 199 countries and territories around the world. Among these are 27 countries with between 3 and 40 deaths today…

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Coronavirus and the call to risk

En Français, Español, Português. It’s the early hours of the morning, and I’m standing in a cholera camp looking at the scene around me. There are people everywhere – on beds, on benches, on the floor, even lying in wheelbarrows. Sunken eyes look up at me as I look at the line of IV drips…

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