The World Health Organization recorded a total of 4,954 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in April, which was a substantial increase against March.
According to the latest WHO Emergency Situation Report, the organization confirmed an increase of 282.5% of COVID-19 cases, with 9 associated deaths, in April, against the previous month.
During April 2023, a total of 18,049 tests were conducted in public laboratories, which is higher by 50.7% compared to March 2023, the report read. During the reporting period, around 196,000 individuals have been vaccinated.
WHO also recorded 12,555 cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD), 2,531 measles cases, 61 dengue cases, and 641,922 cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in April.
The organization said it continues the delivery of health services through static and mobile health facilities with the help of partners and 587,635 individuals benefited from this last month.
In addition, WHO provided 29.75 metric tons of medical and non-medical supplies in April which benefited over 1.5 million people in 34 provinces, through 167 health facilities.
According to the report, WHO is currently providing the full running costs of five hospitals, 10 integrated infectious diseases hospitals, one rehabilitation center and 205 primary health care facilities in underserved areas in 29 provinces.
However, the organization has stated it expects WHO will face a huge funding gap needed to support the 205 health centers by the end of December 2023.
The issue of funding is a growing one among the international community, including the United Nations. Just last week U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said funding is drying up.Guterres warned of a severe shortfall in financial pledges for its humanitarian appeal this year, which is just over 6% funded, falling short of the $4.6 billion requested for a country in which most of the population lives in poverty.
