A joint mission team of NCCD and WHO is working with the Health Department in Tuv province to provide technical support to strengthen COVID-19 response and public health emergency preparedness and response in line with sustained management of COVID-19 and to follow-up the technical implementation of COVID-19 response activities in the province under Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) funding provided by the Government of Canada.
Dr D. Gerelmaa, Technical Officer of Health Emergency, WHO, introduced updated policies, methodologies, and recommendations from the WHO on COVID-19 and shared the best practices of urgent actions to save lives during the pandemic. She provided technical guidance on COVID-19 response at the sub-national level based on the previously implemented activities and key achievements in the province. Dr L. Gerelmaa, WHO Consultant on Health Emergency, recommended to conduct risk assessment and internal monitoring in Tuv province in preparation for the 5th wave of COVID-19 in Mongolia as prognosed. She noted that it is crucial to strengthen capacity of the local health care workers on vaccination and response, to keep the health professionals updated on the latest regulations, emergency plan and recommendations from the Government and to take necessary response measurements in preparation for the new school year.
Dr Suvdmaa, Head of Early Warning and Response Unit, NCCD, informed the current situation of the pandemic in Mongolia. Taking the opportunity of working in the field, she also shared updates and recommendations on monkeypox as WHO had declared the global Monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Dr Gurbazar, Head of Public Health Unit, the Health Department in Tuv province, presented the major COVID-19 response activities implemented locally with technical and financial support from Canada Government and WHO Mongolia. The joint team and the representatives from the Health Department of Tuv province identified the key achievements including strengthened soums multisectoral capacity, updated IMS preparedness plan, improved capacity of surveillance and contact tracing team and good practices and discussed the further necessary actions to be taken to strengthen local COVID-19 response capacity and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.