04 / 06 / 2020 - Ideas in response to the COVID 19 Pandemic - Using Collaboration

Ideas for addressing the COVID 19 PandemicCharalee GraydonWe know the rules, stay home! Practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. Articles write about vaccines being developed but it is noted it may take months to have them ready for use by humans. That requires countries and communities to seek methods to stop the spread of the virus and to deal with the social results occurring from methods used to stop the virus. Borders have closed. Governments are trying to control the spread of the virus. Health care providers are trying their best to meet the needs of patients, often risking their safety. The social messages from friends and relatives, Stay Safe."" Coronavirus can be a killer.In many countries, we are asking the health care system to more that they have the capacity to do. Yet the system is responding by working together, by collaborating to deal with the problem. Communities are sharing limited resources, staff, and supplies. When responding to the Pandemic of COVID 19. We are seeing several articles and interactive meetings being organized. Peacekeeping, collaboration, and mediation groups are reaching out to communities. Unesco has provided useful online resources about responses to COVID 19. An approach I wish to share with WMO members is a video by an expert in the area of collaboration. The creator of the YouTube video, David Savage, has provided authority to share his video with World Mediation Organization members. The video, Global Medical Collaboration provides a method by which medical people from different countries can share information about dealing with the virus and searching for medical solutions. : David is an author of the book, Break Through to Yes, Unlocking the Possible within a Culture of Collaboration. and an expert in using collaboration to address difficult situations.People are moving forward with programs to work together to share information and methods of dealing with the isolation that results from the lockdowns. It is being made clear that social distancing does not mean social isolation. The World Health Organization has published information on the issue which gives a positive message to those experiencing the lockdowns and the social distancing required to stop the spread of COVID 19. Recent news is that France has devoted resources to helping people deal with abusive situations which have increased with lockdowns in the country. Thus, the virus has more than one effect that must be addressed. One problem which is occurring is the mental health toll on young people and the elderly as set out in the World Health Organization article. Another is the roller coaster ride the economy is experiencing.