Fast-tracking who's COVID-19 technical guidance to training for the frontline

ABSTRACT

This article describes progress in achieving the goals of OpenWHO to transform, translate and transfer technical guidance for the COVID-19 emergency - the first pandemic since the platform was launched. An analysis of the role of OpenWHO resources within the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19, the number and use of translated resources and the platform reach by channel was used to determine the impact of OpenWHO's learning response to the COVID-19 emergency and make recommendations to further improve the platform's contribution to global health in a pandemic. Current experience in using the OpenWHO platform for WHO's training response to the pandemic has proven that the platform is sufficiently robust to manage massive increases in traffic and that the basic infrastructure and model can be accessed in low bandwidth settings. Translation into usable formats and languages has also ensured global dissemination and reach. The recognition that public health training is a global public good has made it possible to offer the courses for free, ensuring greater equity of access to information to protect health and save lives.