What role do health workers at the
frontline of service provision play towards
universal health coverage?
They are the first and often only point of contact with the
health system for millions of people. With the right training,
support, incentives and supervision, these cadres of health
workers can help to expand coverage of key preventative,
promotive and curative services to otherwise underserved
populations. Going to work during this COVID-19 pandemic
has placed frontline workers under immense and
unprecedented pressure, putting their physical, mental and
social well-being at risk. Exposure to excessive stress, for
prolonged periods can have many harmful consequences on
the emotional and mental well-being of frontline workers.
Health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19
outbreak response and as such are exposed to different
hazards that put them at risk. Occupational hazards include
exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, violence,
harassment, stigma, discrimination, heavy workload and
prolonged use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This
document provides specific measures to protect
occupational health and safety of health workers and
highlights the duties, rights and responsibilities for health
and safety at work in the context of COVID-19.
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious
disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Most people infected with the virus will experience
COVID-19 VACCINE
mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods,
Equitable access to safe and effective vaccines is critical to ending the
without requiring special trea tment. However, COVID-19 pandemic, so it is hugely encouraging to see so many
some will become seriously ill and require medical their health, and food Systems vaccines proving and going into development. WHO is working
attention. Older people and those with underlying tirelessly with partners to develop, manufacture and deploy safe and
medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, In the COVID-19 crisis food security, public health, effective vaccines.
diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are and employment and labour issues, in particular
worker health and safety converge. Adhering to
more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can Safe and effective vaccines are a game-changing tool: but for the
workplace safety and health practices and ensuring
get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or foreseeable future we must continue wearing masks, cleaning our
access to decent work and the protection of labour
die at any age. rights in all industries will be crucial in addressing hands, ensuring good ventilation indoors, physically distancing and
the human dimension of the crisis. Immediate and avoiding crowds.
The best way to prevent and slow down purposeful action to save lives and livelihoods
transmission is to be well informed about the should include extending social protection towards Being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind
disease and how the virus spreads. Protect yourself universal health coverage and income support for and put ourselves and others at risk, particularly because research is
and others from infection by staying at least 1 metre those most affected. These include workers in the still ongoing into how much vaccines protect not only against disease
apart from others, wearing a properly fitted mask, informal economy and in poorly protected and low- but also against infection and transmission.
and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based paid jobs, including youth, older workers, and
rub frequently. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn migrants. Particular attention must be paid to the WHO’s landscape of COVID-19 vaccine candidates for the latest
and follow local guidance. situation of women, who are over-represented in
information on vaccines in clinical and pre-clinical development,
low-paid jobs and care roles. Different forms of
generally updated twice a week. WHO’s COVID-19 dashboard, updated
support are key, including cash transfers, child
The virus can spread from an infected person’s daily, also features the number of vaccine doses administered
allowances and healthy school meals, shelter and
mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they food relief initiatives, support for employment globally, with more detail provided on the dedicated COVID-19
cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These retention and recovery, and financial relief for vaccination. At a regional level, there is an AFRO COVID-19 vaccines
particles range from larger respiratory droplets to businesses, including micro, small and medium- dashboard and a PAHO COVID-19 vaccines deliveries dashboard.
smaller aerosols. It is important to practice sized enterprises. In designing and implementing
respiratory etiquette, for example by coughing into a such measures it is essential that governments But it’s not vaccines that will stop the pandemic, it’s vaccination. We
flexed elbow, and to stay home and self-isolate until work closely with employers and workers. must ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines, and ensure every
you recover if you feel unwell. country receives them and can roll them out to protect their people,
starting with the most vulnerable.
