COVID-19; critical care challenges in resource-limited countries

摘要

On January 30, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Now, the COVID-19 has been found in almost all countries across the world (Figure 1). Evolving situation in resourcelimited countries (RLCs) is very concerning. Most of the guidelines are developed in high income countries (HICs) which are totally different from RLCs regarding economic situation, healthcare standards, genetic factors and virulence. About 69% of population ≥60 years old, as a suspectable group for sever illness and death due to COVID-19, are in these countries.1 This is very alarming and troublesome in RLCs which have already obstacles in providing basic primary healthcare such as maternal and childhood health or vaccination programs. Since most of the RLCs do not already have a preparedness plan for outbreaks, the challenges to suppress COVID-19 spread may become insuperable. Denial of the pandemic in Latin American countries leads to lack of coordination and delayed effective steps such as lockdown and also misuse of medications.2 In Middle East countries, armed conflicts in the region targets health care facilities of borders and destroys them.