ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly around the world with devastating consequences on patients, health care workers, health systems, and economies. As it reaches low- and middle-income countries, its effects could be even more dire, because it will be difficult for them to respond aggressively to the pandemic. There is a great shortage of all health care providers, who will be at risk due to a lack of personal protection equipment. Social distancing will be almost impossible. The necessary resources to treat patients will be in short supply. The end result could be a catastrophic loss of life. A global effort will be required to support faltering economies and health care systems.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/economics , Developing Countries , Pandemics/economics , Pneumonia, Viral/economics , Poverty , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Humans , International Cooperation , Patient Care Management/economics , Patient Care Management/organization & administration , Personal Protective Equipment , Pneumonia, Viral/therapySubject(s)
Coronavirus Infections , Developing Countries , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Humans , SARS-CoV-2Subject(s)
Anesthesia Department, Hospital/organization & administration , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital/organization & administration , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Surgery Department, Hospital/organization & administration , Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Humans , Medical Staff, Hospital , Pandemics , Personal Protective Equipment/supply & distribution , Pneumonia, Viral/therapy , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter by Dr Subedi wherein he has raised some very important points about managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when working in a low-resource environment.