Year of Health and Care Workers 2021
The WHO has named 2021 the International Year of Health and Care Workers, with the theme “Protect. Invest. Together.” In solidarity and appreciation for the commitment and dedication of health providers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frontline health providers are among the most vulnerable groups who are at greatest risk of exposure when caring for COVID-19 patients. They continue to face additional stress from exhaustion and must manage increasing and demanding workloads. All this, whilst trying to ensure the health and safety of their families, with some being met with stigma from the very same communities that hail them health heroes.
Vaccination roll-out reaching those on the frontline is slow and uneven. “Although progress is being made, many African countries have barely moved beyond the starting line. Limited stocks and supply bottlenecks are putting COVID-19 vaccines out of reach of many people in this region,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “Fair access to vaccines must be a reality if we are to collectively make a dent on this pandemic.”
In Africa there have been major gaps in the COVID-19 response capacity, including human resources, protective equipment, and now, vaccines for healthcare providers. However, this has not stopped the dedicated frontline health providers, working across sub-Saharan Africa, who have stepped up and adapted services so that they can continue to deliver HIV services for children, adolescents, young people and their families despite clinic decanting and country level lockdowns.
In appreciation of the remarkable work done by health providers across Africa, in fighting the double burden of COVID-19 and HIV, PATA joins the WHO in dedicating 2021 to frontline health providers. We acknowledge the continued commitment and compassionate efforts of frontline heath care workers across sub-Saharan Africa. We recognise their sacrifices in providing continued and uninterrupted health and HIV service delivery for children and adolescents, during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
This year, we call for global and local governmental support and action to ensure that frontline health providers in Africa have the resources they need and are cared for, supported, and protected. Protecting those who protect us!
Everyone has a part to play, join the call to action for:
- Additional support and protection for frontline health providers in Africa
- Investment in better infrastructure, equipment, tools and training
- A people’s vaccine that prioritises front line health providers, nobody is safe until we are all safe
Sign up to the PATA Newsletter here to stay up to date with the Year of the health care provider’s campaign.
LISTEN TO PATA POSCAST SERIES
As the frontline of health service delivery faced an emergency during COVID-19 pandemic, PATA´s action plan for COVID-19 supported frontline health providers across the PATA network, by providing a platform for debriefing, supporting each or other and sharing best practices. Listen here to the PATA Podcast Series, a 3-part series featuring health providers advice on being COVID-19 ready on the frontlines of the HIV response.
UNMASKING our HEALTH HEROES- SUMBIT HEALTH PROVIDER STORIES
If you are a health care provider, working in paediatric or adolescent HIV service delivery, we invite you to share your story or let us arrange an interview with you.
- Submit a video, voice note or blog about what motivates you or inspires you to do the work you do despite the challenges you face.
- Or tell us about how you have managed to cope with the added stress caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
JOIN THE NEXT PATA REAL EVENT
PATA REAL is a regional platform for and by health care providers working on paediatric and adolescent HIV service delivery. It is a safe space for us to share REAL, unfiltered, day-to-day experiences and challenges in case finding, testing, initiating ART, retention and supporting children and adolescents on their treatment journey to achieving viral suppression and good health and wellbeing. Register to our newsletter to find out when is the next event.
JOIN THE CALL TO ACTION FOR A #PEOPLESVACCINE
To end the COVID-19 pandemic and the protect the progress made in the HIV response, we need to ensure that all health providers are vaccinated, protected, and supported!
Join the call for a #PeoplesVaccine that prioritises all frontline healthcare providers first. Follow PATA on twitter @teampata and share campaign material in support of a #PeoplesVaccine.
LEAVE A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR HEALTH PROVIDERS
Post your message of support and appreciation here so that we can share these motivating messages with the PATA network.
NOMINATE A HEALTH PROVIDER CHAMPION
If you know an exceptional health provider supporting children and adolescents living with HIV. With the providers permission, send a short nomination, with a picture and 450-word essay example of how the health provider is a CHAMPION for children and adolescents living with HIV. Submit your essay to olwethu@teampata.org for the provider to be featured on our PATA website and social media. All submissions will also be entered into the PATA Annual Awards challenge, announced at its annual summit.
