WHO and Estonia have agreed to collaborate on developing a digitally enhanced International Certificate of Vaccination, a “smart yellow card” to help strengthen the effectiveness of the COVAX initiative, which has been established to speed development and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The agreement signed between His Excellency Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister of Estonia and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General on 5 October 2020, covers working together across a range of digital health projects and innovations in addition to the vaccination card. These include a global framework for health data interoperability, and guidelines for national ePrescription and eDispensing systems, as well as the European Roadmap for the Digitalization of National Health Systems.
“The World Health Organization can play a huge role in global digital health governance. Our pilot project presents an extraordinary opportunity for the Estonian community to help the world in the fight against COVID-19 and to make our experience of building digital services global,” said Prime Minister Ratas.
Also speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, recognized Estonia’s leading role in digital health. “Estonia has emerged as a regional and global front runner in digital health by creating digital public services that are freely accessible by all – and that traverse education, health and welfare sectors. They are Europe’s digital success story, and have much to offer the international community, through sharing of their knowledge and expertise for the creation of digital public health goods to improve the quality of life for millions,” he commented.
Prioritizing digital health in the WHO European Region
Empowerment through digital health is 1 of 4 flagship initiatives that were endorsed by European Region Member States in September 2020 as part of the European Programme of Work 2020–2025. This initiative seeks to provide technical and policy guidance and expertise on the safety and efficacy of digital health solutions across the Region, and ensure that they are used in a way that preserves equity and human rights.
One of its key objectives is to deliver the European Roadmap for the Digitalization of National Health Systems as a blueprint for the design of digital health and social care architectures; as a baseline for orienting and measuring digital health system investment and reform; and as a catalyst for funding, research and partner engagement for digital health. The agreement signed between WHO and the Government of Estonia will contribute to this work.
Referring to the agreement signed, Dr Tedros concluded, “My thanks again to the Government of Estonia, for sharing the knowledge they gained in their efforts to develop equitable and safe digital technologies, and especially to his Excellency, Prime Minister Ratas. Our strong commitment to work together brings us further down the road towards more equitable health and well-being for all”.
At a time when the pandemic has roiled the social, economic and spiritual fabric of society, Pope Francis hopes that advances in science and technology will help create a more equitable and inclusive society, where the neediest and most vulnerable are given preference.
“How wonderful it would be if the growth of scientific and technological innovation could come along with more equality and social inclusion,” the Pope said. “How wonderful would it be, even as we discover faraway planets, to rediscover the needs of the brothers and sisters who orbit around us!” he said, citing from his latest encyclical, Fratelli tutti, on fraternity and social friendship, released on Sunday.
The Pope made the remark in a message to the plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences which began on Wednesday.
The 7-9 October virtual meeting is focusing on the notion of science at the service of people for the survival of humanity, in light of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic and other global issues.
In his message, the Pope noted that despite “all our hyper-connectivity”, the pandemic has laid bare not only “our false securities” but also the “inability of the world’s countries to work together” to resolve problems that affect us all.
The virus, he pointed out, is not only affecting peoples’ health but also the entire social, economic and spiritual fabric of society. It is paralyzing human relationships, work, manufacturing, trade and even many spiritual activities.
Starting with the least
The impact of the crisis on the world’s poor is great, the Pope said. “For many of them, the question is indeed one of survival itself.”
With great numbers of children unable to return to school, he said, there is the risk of an increase in child labour, exploitation, abuse and malnutrition.
“The needs of the poorer members of our human family,” the Holy Father said, “cry out for equitable solutions on the part of governments and all decision makers.”
Healthcare systems need to become much more inclusive and accessible to the disadvantaged and those living in low-income countries. “If anyone should be given preference,” the Pope said, “let it be the neediest and most vulnerable among us.” And when vaccines are available, there should be equitable access to them regardless of income, always starting with the least.
Ecology
In his message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis also addressed issues of global warming, the ecological crisis and the dramatic loss of biodiversity in the context of the pandemic.
He said this moment of crisis is a summons to the human family to repent and undertake an ecological conversion.
Weapons of mass destruction
Pope Francis also spoke about scenarios that could arise from experiments in the world’s advanced physics and biology laboratories. In this regard, he said, scientists, like politicians, also have a responsibility “to halt not only the manufacture, possession and use of nuclear weapons, but also the development of biological weapons, with their potential to devastate innocent civilians and indeed, entire peoples”.
Msgr Kevin Irwin believes that Pope Francis’s new Encyclical Fratelli tutti is speaking out of a deep concern that humanity is becoming more and more isolated from each other. The Pope’s focus, therefore, on fraternity and social friendship, speak to the heart of this concern.
Fraternity and social friendship go hand in hand, Msgr Irwin explains. The isolation that Pope Francis is addressing is manifested “in terms of countries and borders, in terms of economy and equality, in terms of development.”
Pope Francis’s point is “we are together”, and social friendship is the way to break down the barriers creating the isolation.
“If we take each other seriously, then we should be brothers and sisters and friends, and not just anonymous beings.”
Good Samaritans to each other
The Encyclical, Msgr Irwin says, “overturns the perspective of we and they. The perspective is all of us together, and we are to be Good Samaritans to each other.” The question that then presents itself is “How can we live that together?”
This is what makes the Encyclical profound. To understand its message fully requires that each person slow down, read it, pray with it and reflect on it. Msgr Irwin also suggests that “people begin working in study groups”, discussing it together. People can begin, he says, “to look at inequality in their own countries”. He also suggests dialogue with local Bishops to learn how they plan to move forward on specific topics such as poverty and the death penalty.
Listen to our interview with Msgr Kevin Irwin
New words for past teaching
Although the terminology “fraternity and social friendship” may be new with Pope Francis, Msgr Irwin assures us that Pope Francis refers substantially both to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in the Encyclical.
While “the phrase itself is his own, and it has always been a concern of his… overall, it is terminology for a number of things in the Document which his predecessors have already spoken about: economy, the death penalty, etc.”.
World-wide dialogue
It was Pope John XXIII who first addressed an Encyclical to “all people of goodwill” with Pacem in terris. Msgr Irwin says it was a “breakthrough…because he [Pope John XXIII] knew that it would be an important document and he opened it up to the world for the first time”.
Pope Francis has done the same thing with Laudato si’, and now with Fratelli tutti. Therefore, these documents are not “in-house” but are meant “for the whole world to dialogue and discuss and hopefully begin to implement.”
New ‘difference’
Pope Francis’s hope and invitation with Laudato si’ was that it would spark dialogue across the religious and national spectrum. This dialogue is “just beginning to work”, Msgr Irwin acknowledges.
The purpose of Fratelli tutti is to create a new “normal”. With Fratelli tutti, “at this particular moment, in terms of Covid, I think he’s trying to say, ‘We can’t just keep doing this.’ There will be a new ‘normal’. But I think the Pope is asking for a new ‘difference’. It’s got to be different. We can’t keep doing this, and oppressing, and 1 out of 9 people going to bed at night hungry. This is not the way to live.”
Msgr Kevin Irwin is Ordinary Research Professor in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C.
For the UN, as for all international partners of Belarus, the scale of protests and the level of repressions were a big surprise. This is the first time that the country, which has been very stable and where people are generally quite reserved in terms of expressing their political views, is seeing an election contested to this degree.
What is also unprecedented is the intensity of repressions against demonstrators and journalists. About 13,000 people were arrested over the last eight weeks, most of the detentions taking place in the first week after elections. This will go down in the history books as something that never happened before in Belarus.
Another unexpected phenomenon was the social mobilization and the use of technology that allows people to communicate and coordinate their protests in real time. Social media and mobile internet are changing the way political activism happens. More and more people are expressing themselves and organizing online.
Kseniya Golubovich
Since August 2020, Minsk and other cities in Belarus have seen mass protests with many calling for an end to excessive force used by the police.
The role of the UN is to promote international norms and standards, and advocate for the respect of universal human rights. The UN reacted immediately, to remind the state authorities of their international obligations: torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are absolutely prohibited and can never be justified.
From the beginning of the crisis, the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and myself as the UN representative in the country, have issued a number of official statements and urged the authorities of Belarus to respect the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
Facing the mass detentions of over 7,000 people in the week following elections, and allegations of torture in prisons, the UN urged the authorities to release everyone who had been detained for exercising their human rights, to stop torture and other forms of ill-treatment of detainees, investigate all cases of human rights violations, and clarify the fate and whereabouts of any individuals reported as missing.
Kseniya Golubovich
Protesters detained during demonstrations in Minsk, Belarus, are released from prison.
With time, we have been receiving troubling reports and of torture and other ill-treatment. It is important to ensure that these are well documented, also to allow investigation of and future accountability for such acts. Timely medical examinations are crucial in this regard, alongside the important work of human rights organizations gathering information on these cases.
In my capacity as the UN Resident Coordinator and together with the Senior Human rights advisor in my office, Omer Fisher, we conveyed these messages directly to our national counterparts, first and foremost through the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Belarus and to the Ministry of Interior and other state institutions responding to the crisis. We have also raised these issues in writing, especially the question of missing persons. I am encouraged by the fact that the MoI has responded to our letter and that we are gradually receiving more information from the state authorities.
In addition to dialogue with the State, we continue to discuss the current situation with civil society partners. Both human rights NGOs and the leaders of SDG Partnership Group have expressed concern about the violence of the security forces, the lack of action, and delays in the investigation of alleged violations, including torture and other ill-treatment)..
At the UN, we are also receiving complaints directly from the victims and their lawyers: the majority of them do not feel confident that submitting complaints to the authorities will result in proper investigation.
For several years now, the UN in Belarus has been supporting organizations which offer psychological and legal support to victims of violence. The demand for this kind of assistance has increased dramatically and we will continue to provide capacity support to the national partners and non-governmental organizations involved in addressing these problems.
UN Belarus
UN Belarus has launched a COVID-19 public information safety campaign in cities across the country.
Coping with COVID
Like everywhere in Europe, new cases of COVID-19 in Belarus are on the rise. And of course, mass protests and especially detention of demonstrators in overcrowded institutions without proper physical distancing and other prevention measures can lead to further spread of infection.
In the first half of 2020 we adjusted our priorities and the actual content of our work has changed. All together, we provided some $7.5 million to the national response, including supporting the health system, and addressing the socioeconomic impact, namely, helping SMEs to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.
The UN never closed offices, although many of our staff have been working from home. While the focus has been and remains on COVID-19 response, we continue working on long-term development issues. For example, we provided policy advice and concrete suggestions on what should be included in Belarus’ long-term development strategy up until 2035, which is being developed this year.
‘The only path forward is one of dialogue’
From the UN’s perspective, Belarus should set more ambitious development plans, by prioritizing the needs of young people and the ageing population; strengthening the position of women in the economy; and embracing new technologies and opportunities that will support sustainable economic growth that benefits the poorer and most marginalized segments of the society. This is the vision of cooperation in the next five years of our presence in Belarus.
Amid COVID-19, climate change and political upheaval, Belarus finds itself in an extremely competitive global and regional environment. The only path forward for the country is one of dialogue, ambitious reform and an innovative development agenda, underpinned by true respect for human rights.
There is no sustainable development without human rights. The UN in Belarus will continue to work on addressing these needs even though it is a challenging and stressful time, especially for the Belarusian members of our team. We are often asked “could the UN do more?”. I would say that we are trying to do our utmost in this complex situation for Belarus, with the tools that are at our disposal. With good will, new energy, a willingness to engage in dialogue, and professional effort on all sides, I am sure Belarus will continue to grow and develop.
True Religion Receives Court Approval to Exit Bankruptcy, Shifting Ownership to Lenders True Religion is on the verge of emerging from bankruptcy after receiving court approval for its Chapter11 reorganization plan, a significant step for the retailer that has faced financial turmoil amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, a spokesperson for the law firm Cole Schotz, which is representing True Religion in its Chapter11 case, announced that the plan will enable the apparel seller to transfer most of its new equity to existing lenders as part of a $65.8 million settlement.Having originally filed for bankruptcy in April2020, True Religion’s troubles were exacerbated by the pandemic, which forced the company to temporarily close its stores. According to court documents, the retailer currently operates50 stores, a significant reduction from the87 locations it had at the time of filing.
True Religion was one of the initial retailers forced to seek bankruptcy protection as the COVID-19 crisis wreaked havoc on the retail landscape. During the pandemic, the company’s revenue plunged by approximately80%, which prompted its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to highlight the dire circumstances at the time of filing. The retailer sought a break on rent payments, a request that echoed across the industry as many retailers attempted to navigate the financial fallout from widespread store closures.
Founded in2002 by Jeff Lubell, True Religion previously filed for Chapter11 in2017. This first bankruptcy allowed the company to reduce its debt, but it failed to resolve ongoing issues. Problems persisted, with profits and sales declining in2019 due to “product designs which were not attractive to True Religion’s traditional customer base,” as noted by the CFO. Furthermore, heavy discounting in e-commerce channels to clear slow-moving inventory contributed to the retailer’s financial struggles.
For the year ending February1—prior to the pandemic—True Religion reported a net loss of 50million∗∗againstrevenuesof∗∗50million∗∗againstrevenuesof∗∗259 million. In an effort to regain stability, the company undertook various measures, including management changes, cost-cutting initiatives, and attempts to renegotiate with lenders. However, these out-of-court negotiations did not yield the desired results.
Which priorities for the [post-]COVID-19 EU External Action?
The COMECE Commission on the EU External Relations gathered online on 29 September 2020 to discuss the most pressing issues for EU’s Foreign and Security Policy. In dialogue with EU and Church representatives, the Commission highlighted the important role the EU could play in leading global efforts for reinvigorating multilateralism.
Exchanging with representatives of the European Parliament, the COMECE Commission stressed the need for a people-centred and value-based approach in EU’s humanitarian, development, trade and security policies, having become even more urgent due to the socio-economic impact posed by Covid-19.
“The European Union has a key role to play – stated Mgr. Norvila– in order to prevent rivalries from regaining force and to lead efforts for the revitalisation of a true global community based on multilateral dialogue and trustful cooperation”. The experts also discussed possibilities for the EU to increase its engagement in creating conditions for the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Union’s neighbourhood, both at its Eastern and Southern borders.
In dialogue with Rev. Terwase Henry Akaabiam, General Secretary of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), the experts of the COMECE Commission built upon the recommendations contained in the recent COMECE-SECAM joint contribution and reflected on specific ways to put in place a fair and people-centered partnership between Europe and Africa ahead of the planned EU-AU Summitin 2021.
The Commission also exchanged views on the various challenges – ecological, socio-economic, human rights and geopolitical – the Arctic region is currently facing, in view of elaborating a contribution to the on-going EU public consultation on the future Arctic policy.
Mairead McGuinness has been approved by the European Parliament to be Ireland’s commissioner, taking up the brief of financial services.
<p class="no_name">In a vote on Wednesday, MEPs approved the appointment of the long time <a class="search" href="/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&tag_organisation=Fine+Gael" rel="nofollow">Fine Gael</a> representative with a decisive vote of 583 in favour and 75 against.</p>
<p class="no_name"><a class="search" href="/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&tag_person=Valdis+Dombrovskis" rel="nofollow">Valdis Dombrovskis</a>, the Latvian commissioner who will assume the trade portfolio vacated due to the resignation of <a class="search" href="/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&tag_person=Phil+Hogan" rel="nofollow">Phil Hogan</a>, was also approved by 515 in favour to 110 against.</p>
<p class="no_name">The appointments are expected to get the final nod of approval by the national leaders of the EU in the <a class="search" href="/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&tag_organisation=European+Council" rel="nofollow">European Council</a> in the coming week.</p>
<p class="no_name">“I expect to hit ground running early next week,” Ms McGuinness said in a statement. “I will be focusing on a wide range of issues and ensuring financial stability in these difficult times, with the Covid-19 pandemic.”</p>
<p class="no_name">MEPs wearing face masks applauded and rose to their feet in the European Parliament chamber after the result of the vote was announced.</p>
<p class="no_name">European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who asked for a woman to be nominated for the role as well as a man in order to increase gender balance in her executive, congratulated Ms McGuinness in a tweet.</p>
<h4 class="crosshead">Valuable</h4><p class="no_name">“Well done... for convincing the European Parliament to support you for the post of Commissioner!” Dr von der Leyen wrote. “I know you will do a great job on EU financial services, in the frontline of our recovery efforts. Your experience will be very valuable.”</p>
<p class="no_name">Ms McGuinness enjoys broad support in the European Parliament after having served as its vice president since 2014.</p>
<p class="no_name">Her seat in parliament for the Midlands-North West constituency is set to be taken up by Fine Gael councillor <a class="search" href="/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&tag_person=Colm+Markey" rel="nofollow">Colm Markey</a>.</p>
<p class="no_name">Fine Gael MEPs welcomed Mr Markey after the vote, which they described in a statement as a “strong endorsement” of Ms McGuinness.</p>
<p class="no_name">“The financial services portfolio she now takes on is highly significant, both for <a href="/news">Ireland</a> and the EU. It covers banking union, capital markets union, sustainable finance, and a new digital finance strategy,” the Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South Seán Kelly said.</p>
<p class="no_name">The role of financial services commissioner involves working on capital markets union, banking union, and anti-money laundering measures.</p>
<h4 class="crosshead">Inclusive society</h4><p class="no_name">Ms McGuinness has said her priority will be to reform the financial system to create a more inclusive society, prioritising lending to small and medium enterprises.</p>
<p class="no_name">“European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has tasked me with advancing the banking union, the capital markets union and sustainable finance. This portfolio reaches out to all policy areas in the European Commission, as we strive for a more sustainable economy and society, and meet the challenge of climate change and biodiversity loss,” she said in a statement.</p>
<p class="no_name">“Tackling money laundering will also be a core part of the work programme I will be dealing with, as well as regulating the new cryptocurrencies and ensuring consumer protection.”</p>
<p class="no_name">Ms McGuinness was nominated for the role following the resignation of Mr Hogan in the wake of the Golfgate scandal.</p>
Rabat – The Council of Europe (CoE) announced on Wednesday its appointment of a special representative to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred.
Daniel Holtgen, the director of communications of the Council of Europe, will be the first “Special Representative on Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Hatred and Hate Crimes.”
Holtgen’s task is to join forces with decision-makers at the European level and ensure the collective expertise of the Council of Europe to prevent anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim acts.
During Holtgen’s appointment on Wednesday, the Council of Europe’s Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic Buric highlighted the attacks at the hands of a “far-right extremist” in Hanau, Germany, earlier this year. In February, the terrorist attacked two shisha bars and killed nine people, including several Muslims.
Buric also recalled the deadly anti-Semitic attack at a synagogue in Halle, Germany, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur one year ago. More recently, on Sunday, an assailant attacked a Jewish man entering a synagogue in the German city of Hamburg during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
“We are witnessing an alarming increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim attacks in many parts of Europe today, often incited and aggravated by hate speech online,” said the European official.
The secretary-general said that Islam, like Judaism, is a part of today’s Europe. Both communities should live without fear of hatred, Buric stressed.
The freedom from religious discrimination has been at the core of the Council of Europe’s mission since its establishment in 1949.
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have increased in recent years amid the rise of the far-right.
In particular, hatred and crimes against Muslims, mosques, and the Quran occur frequently across Europe, especially as Muslim immigrant populations grow.
Discrimination against Muslims in Europe does not only occur among communities and individuals, but can also dominate media discourse.
French political journalist Eric Zemmour, for example, is well-known in Europe for his hardline positions against Islam and immigrants.
On February 10, during a debate with France’s Secretary of State for Gender Equality and Combating Discrimination, Marlene Schiappa, Zemmour said that Muslims in France who name their child Mohammed or wear the veil are engaging in self-discrimination.
Zemmour said that “calling [a] child Mohammed … is self discrimination,” adding that “the parents should have called him Francois.” He argued that non-Judeo-Christian names like Mohammed jeopardize the survival of France’s history and culture.
France has investigated and convicted Zemmour for hate speech in the past. One notable incident that prompted an investigation occurred on September 28, 2019, when he spoke before the “Convention of the Right.”
During his speech, Zemmour said “Muslim immigrants” are “colonizers” carrying out a “large replacement” of France’s predominantly white and Chrisitan population and embarking on an “Islamization of the streets.”
“Will young French people accept to live in a minority on the land of their ancestors?”
Taking part in this year’s European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG), held virtually from 30 September to 2 October, representatives from WHO/Europe spoke about the importance of leveraging new partnerships to strengthen health across the WHO European Region. This included the announcement of the Oslo Medicines Initiative, to find ways to ensure greater access to affordable medicines while maintaining commercial viability for medicine producers.
The theme of this year’s EHFG was “Dancing with elephants: new partnerships for health, democracy, business”, with WHO/Europe and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies contributing to sessions including: improving access to medicines, amplifying people’s voices in health decision-making, and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the session “Finding the common beat: Towards a new vision of collaboration to improve access to medicines”, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, launched the Oslo Medicines Initiative. Dr Kluge spoke about the importance of increasing sustainable access to novel medicines, therapeutics and diagnostics. In order to achieve this, it is important to explore partnerships with private entities who manufacture medicines, to ensure that they are readily available and affordable, while also maintaining commercial viability for producers.
Commenting on this new Initiative, Dr Kluge said: “Access to affordable quality medicines is at the core of universal health coverage. We need the pharmaceutical industry to innovate, but intellectual property rights can never be a barrier for any patient, particularly the poor, to receiving life-saving medicines”.
The Initiative will function with both in-person and virtual meetings, including:
a series of webinars in spring 2021 with keynote speakers and panellists representing different stakeholders;
a physical meeting planned for spring 2022, to outline a new vision for collaboration to improve access to novel medicines in the European Region.
Speaking during the panel discussion and commenting on the Oslo Medicines Initiative, Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO/Europe, said: “Patients, health systems and governments expect the right to reasonably priced medicines to meet their needs, whilst the investors and the pharmaceutical industry expect to earn sufficient profits to compensate for the risk inherent in developing and manufacturing these medicines.
“Over the coming months, the Oslo Medicines Initiative will provide a platform for Member States and non-state actors to collaborate and set out a new vision and framework for better access.”
During the session, moderated by Dimitra Panteli of the Observatory and Dr Azzopardi-Muscat, panellists highlighted the need for greater transparency in relation to development costs and the opportunity that exists to exercise market power though working collectively.
Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr Kluge also spoke at the opening plenary panel discussion on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Asked about the role of the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development, Dr Kluge explained that the Commission has been created to offer recommendations on how societies and health systems can build back better following the pandemic and be better prepared for future health emergencies.
In addition, Dr Kluge spoke about the importance of dual-track service delivery within primary health care for health systems recovering from COVID-19, to ensure that other health conditions are addressed at the same time as managing COVID-19 cases. Turning to the European Programme of Work, mental health was also discussed, with recognition of the impact that the pandemic has had on people around the world.
Democratizing decision-making
During a session titled “Health democracy in action”, Dr Azzopardi-Muscat delivered the opening remarks. Partnerships with civil society are central to building trust in government institutions and enhancing adherence to public health measures.
The session highlighted how creating a more inclusive, participatory governance approach requires engaging experts across multiple disciplines, and dialogue with people, communities and civil society to create a high-level of transparency in how decisions are taken in health.
European Observatory at EHFG
The Observatory facilitated and participated in a range of sessions during EHFG. The common theme emerging from this series of interactive discussions was the need for closer collaboration and cooperation between countries of the European Region, to better manage the COVID-19 crisis and build more resilient systems to withstand future shocks.
Anna Sagan, Research Fellow with the Observatory, presented recently published findings on health system resilience and the importance of governance in dealing with crises, and offered a conceptual framework to help systems prepare for and cope with unexpected events.
How research informs policy in a time of crisis was the focus of Thursday’s plenary, titled “The Advisor’s Dilemma”, hosted by Observatory Director Josep Figueras, which explored the challenge for policy-makers of acting without concrete evidence (or flying blind) and communicating uncertainty while avoiding undermining public trust.
In recent weeks, many countries have been reporting an increase in “pandemic fatigue” – people are feeling demotivated about following recommended behaviours to protect themselves and others from the virus.
Finding effective ways to tackle this fatigue and reinvigorate public vigilance is therefore a growing challenge that governments and health authorities face as this prolonged public health crisis continues.
High-level public health experts from over 30 countries and partner organizations in the WHO European Region connected remotely on 5 October to strengthen understanding of pandemic fatigue and share experiences in how to address it.
At the request of Member States, WHO/Europe has also developed a framework of policy recommendations to guide governments in the planning and implementation of national and subnational strategies to bolster public support for COVID-19 prevention measures.
Professor Cornelia Betsch, Heisenberg-Professor of Health Communication at Erfurt University, Germany, spoke of the psychology behind pandemic fatigue, explaining that fear is a motivator for protective behaviour, but it wears off as people adapt to the threat. Fatigue also occurs if we do the same things repeatedly for a long time, she added.
WHO defines pandemic fatigue as a natural and expected reaction to sustained and unresolved adversity in people’s lives. It expresses itself as demotivation to engage in protective behaviours and to seek out information, as well as in feelings of complacency, alienation and hopelessness. Pandemic fatigue evolves gradually over time and is affected by the cultural, social, structural and legislative environment.
Therefore monitoring public opinion, through tools such as the one developed by WHO/Europe and now used by 27 countries and areas in the Region, is an important starting point for effective behavioural change.
Sharing country experiences
Many country representatives took the floor at the meeting to share examples of action taken in their countries to ensure public engagement in COVID-19-related measures. Common themes included making sure that these initiatives were understandable and logical, the importance of supporting livelihoods and jobs, targeting measures to specific groups, and considering other barriers beyond knowledge that prevent people from following recommendations (such as lack of access to safe water, hand sanitizer, masks, spacious living conditions, and so on).
Several participants also highlighted how supporting mental health initiatives is essential as the pandemic continues.
Framework of policy considerations
Katrine Bach Habersaat, Team Lead (ad interim) of the Behavioural and Cultural Insights Unit at WHO/Europe, introduced the framework developed by WHO/Europe to address pandemic fatigue. It includes 4 key strategies:
Understand people: collect and use evidence for targeted, tailored and effective policies, interventions and communication.
Engage people as part of the solution: find ways to meaningfully involve individuals and communities at every level.
Help people to reduce risk while doing the things that make them happy: wide-ranging restrictions may not be feasible for everyone in the long run.
Acknowledge and address the hardship people experience, and the profound impact the pandemic has had on their lives.
It also sets down 5 cross-cutting principles for any initiative, policy or communication to follow: transparency, fairness, consistency, coordination and predictability.
In addition, the paper provides a quick list of concrete actions, and examples from countries of what they have done to understand and engage people, seek to reduce risk and acknowledge hardship.
Next steps
There was broad agreement among participants that further discussion on the topic of pandemic fatigue is needed through a regular forum. WHO/Europe also proposed creating a repository for country experiences.
At the end of the meeting, the Norwegian concept of “dugnad” was invoked – support provided by individuals to help each other or a community – a form of group resilience to be nurtured in the months ahead.
Using behavioural and cultural science to advance health
Behavioural and cultural insights for health refers to knowledge derived from the social sciences and health humanities that helps us to better understand the drivers of and barriers to achieving the highest attainable standard of health.
The newly approved European Programme of Work 2020–2025 has a strong focus on harnessing behavioural and cultural insights, and a new unit was recently established at WHO/Europe to improve knowledge in this field.
![Which priorities for the [post-]COVID-19 EU External Action?](https://i2.wp.com/www.comece.eu/storage/img/01/33/asset-9f8dbd13e4ac906504bd.jpg?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "Which priorities for the [post-]COVID-19 EU External Action?")
