🌎 This Commission will bring together leaders & thought partners to take a closer look at the impact of the pandemic on mental health in the Americas.
It will guide PAHO and its Member States to strengthen our efforts to meet mental health needs across our Region.
🌎 On this topic, I want to mention PAHO is launching a High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19 on Friday, May 6.
🌎 It is true that the pandemic has challenged the mental wellbeing of all of us – not just health professionals.
🌎 Throughout the Americas, nurses bravely faced the brunt of the pandemic, and many struggled from burnout and mental health conditions.
🌎 Ahead of International Nurses Day 👨🏿⚕️👩🏽⚕️, we want to thank the nurses who have helped achieve this milestone and played a central role in caring for those that fell ill from COVID.
It has not been easy.
🌎 We must maintain this momentum to reach the 230 million people who remain unvaccinated in our Region.
We never would have reached this many people without the essential work of nurses throughout the Americas.
🌎 Since COVID vaccines 🩹 became available, we have delivered 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Over Vaccination Week in the Americas last week, we managed to deliver more than 12 million doses.
This is remarkable progress.
🌎 To reach this growth, and retain our existing nurses, countries must have clear policies to develop and retain the health workforce.
🌎 We need to double our investments in growing our nursing 👩🏽⚕️👨🏿⚕️ workforce, and care for our existing nurses so they can continue to care for us.
🌎 To meet our health needs, PAHO estimates that the Region of the Americas will need 1.8 million more nurses by 2030.
The United States will need to add 1.2 million nurses to its workforce, and Canada will need 60,000 more by 2025.
