DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (18 March 2024)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Cholera
o In light of increasing Cholera outbreaks around the world, including in Comoros, we want to
share with you this UN DHMOSH Cholera website for your reference. This site contains an
information brochure for staff, the UN Medical Director's Cholera Risk Mitigation Plan (English
/ French), CDC: Five Basic Cholera Prevention Messages, and other helpful resources.
• COVID-19
o We wish to update you on the testing requirements for uniformed personnel for peacekeeping
missions: As you are aware, the attached Note Verbale was sent out to all TCCs on December
2023, explaining that COVID-19 testing reimbursements will soon cease. To this end, we wish
to inform all missions that the United Nations no longer requires that uniformed personnel
present proof of negative PCR tests for entry into missions, UNLESS this is a requirement of
the host country.
• e-Outbreak Response Tool (ORT)
o A new DHMOSH e-outbreak reporting tool, also known as the ORT, officially launched on 11
March 2024. This portal will allow seamless reporting of all kinds of outbreaks, including COVID,
from the field medical operations.
o To learn more about this tool, please watch the video recording of the DHMOSH Global
Webinar: “Introduction to DHMOSH’s e-Outbreak Response Tool (ORT)".
o More information about how to access this tool will be disseminated to you soon.

Other Diseases & Guidelines

• Animal Bites
o DHMOSH Guidance for the Prevention and Management of Snakebites (English/French) &
DHMOSH Guidance for the Prevention and Management of Scorpion Stings (English/French)
are newly updated and now available for your information on the Animal Bites | HR Portal
(un.org).

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• We will be holding a training session for all HIV PEP Focal Points and Custodians on 26th March 2024, at
9:30 a.m. New York time. The meeting will cover the basics of HIV and go over the roles and
responsibilities of PEP Custodians and any updates on the PEP program. The expected participants in
this training are the CMOs, HIV focal points, HIV PEP Custodians and all stakeholders involved in HIV
management in your duty stations and missions.
• HIV PEP Custodian training was conducted for the newly appointed HIV PEP custodians in Micronesia,
Palau, and Marshalls Island. A total of 20 custodians participated in the training.
• New sets of HIV PEP kits were deployed to Gaza and Jerusalem in response to the current crisis in the
region.
• For further information on the above, please reach out to dos-dhmosh-hiv@un.org.

UN Global Health Challenge

• BONJOUR 2024
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 o Thank you to everyone who participated in BONJOUR 2024 – UN Global Health Challenge which
concluded on 14 February. Between New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day, 950 steppers logged a
total of 333,981,557 steps, which is equivalent to an individual daily average of 7,812 steps.
o We would also like to take this opportunity to inform everyone that the Organization’s license
for the Movespring application expires on February 28. We will be holding off on renewing our
subscription until the second half of the year. You can just keep using the app until the vendor
suspends our accounts. We have requested the vendor to keep all your information intact so
you can just pick up from where you left off; so, don’t delete the app on your phones just yet!

Recent iSeek Articles

• As a resource, please see below the list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your
use/dissemination:
• I Stepped Up For My Health, Part 1 (11 January 2024)
• I Stepped Up For My Health, part 2 (17 January 2024)
• Don’t spread viruses in the workplace...stay home if you are sick (25 January 2024)
• I Stepped Up For My Health, part 3 (25 January 2024)
• I Stepped Up For My Health, part 4 (31 January 2024)
• We Stepped Up For Our Health, part 5 (7 February 2024)
• Salad, Sushi, Sashimi, Ceviche: Could you be ingesting parasites? (13 February 2024)
• Listen to your heart to prevent heart attacks and strokes (19 February 2024)
• Starting the year out right with the UN Global Health Challenge (6 March 2024)
• Listen! Protect yourself from hearing loss (12 March 2024)

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and the support that we can
offer, please see here.

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

2
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (29 December 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• COVID 19 Isolation Policy
o The latest United Nations Medical Directors’ Risk Mitigation Plan for COVID-19
Recommendations for UN Personnel following WHO’s Guideline Clinical management of COVID-
19: living guideline (who.int) states that individuals who are symptomatic due to SARS-CoV-2
infection should be in isolation for at least 10 days. Rapid antigen tests can be used to guide or
reduce the isolation period. Individuals who are and remain asymptomatic should be in
isolation for at least 5 days.
o More information is available here: Infection prevention and control in the context of
coronavirus disease (COVID-19): A living guideline.

• Conjunctivitis
o We are pleased to inform you that a new page on Conjunctivitis has been created on our HR
Portal under the Disease-Specific Information subpage. This page provides key information for
staff on the prevention of disease and includes the new DHMOSH Guidance for the
Management of Acute Conjunctivitis Cases and Outbreaks (English/French).

UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey 2023

• The UN Staff Health and Wellness Survey 2023, a comprehensive survey that collects key information
on the current physical and mental health of the UN workforce globally to assess the overall health and
safety risks facing UN personnel is officially closed. A huge thanks to all who have shared their views
and feedback - a total of 4,070 responses were received from the UN Secretariat entities.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• The DHMOSH Public Health team organized an HIV PEP meeting on 22 November 2023 for HIV focal
points, advisors, PEP custodians and other HIV/PEP stakeholders. The meeting covered the basics of
HIV and went over the roles and responsibilities of PEP Custodians and any updates on the PEP
program.
• The recording of this training and all HIV/AIDS and HIV PEP resources can be accessed at the UN HR
Portal dedicated webpage at this link.
• DHMOSH participated as a panelist in the World AIDS Day conference organized by the UN Civil Service
Society and streamed on UN WebTV. Issues on community-led HIV Prevention and treatments were
discussed.
• For further information on the above, please reach out to dos-dhmosh-hiv@un.org.

UN Global Health Challenge

• BONJOUR 2024
o The Public Health Unit in the Division of Healthcare and Management and Occupational Health
(DHMOSH) invites you to welcome the New Year by “stepping” to improve your overall health
for 45 days, from January 1 to February 14, 2024. This is an individual challenge aiming to reach
an average of 8,000 steps a day by Valentine's Day.
o How to join? See the step-by-step guidance here.
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 • FALL IN STEP UP: UN Global Health Challenge 2023
o Congratulations to all steppers who participated in the recent Fall In, Step Up: UN Global Health
Challenge 2023. The annual global exercise is part of our commitment to promoting physical
activity for overall health among UN personnel.
o On 11 September, 3,000 steppers from around the world grouped into 120 teams and
embarked on a 90-day journey towards health and wellness...10,000 daily steps at a time have
achieved an average of 8,902 steps per day!
o Nine teams succeeded in being "Highly Active", logging a daily average of more than 12,500
steps, and 17 teams were "Active", averaging between 10,000 and 12,499 steps. Out of the
2,532 steppers who synchronized their steps with the mobile activity tracking app, a whopping
25 percent were able to reach and exceed the target of 10,000 steps recommended by the
World Health Organization. A further 16 percent showed a promising moderate level of physical
activity that closely approached the goal.
o See more details of the results here: Results of FALL IN, STEP UP! UN Global Health Challenge
2023 (22 December 2023)

DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #12: Healthy Eating in the Holiday Season
• Thank you to the over 120 participants of our November 16th DHMOSH Public Health Conversation
Series talk on “Nourishing Joy: Healthy Eating in the Holiday Season”.
• Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
• If staff want to receive a calendar invitation for future talks, please encourage them to register here
today.

Recent iSeek Articles

• As a resource, please see below the list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your
use/dissemination:
• Have you completed the UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey yet? (20 November 2023)
• Asthma takes your breath away (28 November 2023)
• World AIDS Day 2023: Let Communities Lead! (1 December 2023)
• Nourishing joy: Healthy eating during the holidays (11 December 2023)
• Results of FALL IN, STEP UP! UN Global Health Challenge 2023 (22 December 2023)

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

4
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (14 November 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey 2023

• Please note that we have recently launched the UN Staff Health and Wellness Survey 2023 for the
Secretariat. This is a comprehensive survey that collects key information on the current physical and
mental health of the UN workforce globally to assess the overall health and safety risks facing UN
personnel.
• This is a very important survey which affects you. Your views and feedback help the Organization
evaluate and improve its current health and well-being programs and policies and shape future
approaches.
• All UN Secretariat personnel are encouraged to participate.
• All active UN personnel with an organizational email address can access this survey at
https://reflections.agendaconsulting.co.uk/UNHI2023 (generic password: UNHealth2023).
• After initial entry, the system will generate a unique password that can be used to re-enter the
survey and pick up where you left off. The survey can be completed at your convenience until
30 November 2023. No edits can be made following submission.
• This survey is completely anonymous, confidential, and only aims to collect and aggregate data.
At no point will you have to provide any identifying information. You also have the option to
skip any question you do not want to respond to.
• More information in the FAQs. For other questions, contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• We will be holding a training session for all HIV PEP Focal Points and Custodians on 22nd November
2023, at 9:30 a.m. New York time. The meeting will cover basics of HIV and go over the roles and
responsibilities of PEP Custodians and any updates on the PEP program.
• The expected participants in this training are the CMOs, HIV focal points, HIV PEP Custodians and all
stakeholders involved in HIV management in your duty stations and missions.
• A recording of the presentation will be made available for the benefit of those who are unable to
attend or do not have access to the platform.
• For further information on the above, please reach out to dos-dhmosh-hiv@un.org.

DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #11: The Vital Role of Food & Nutrition in Holistic
Health
• Thank you to the over 200 participants of our September 27th DHMOSH Public Health Conversation
Series talk on “Revitalizing Wellness: The Vital Role of Food & Nutrition in Holistic Health”.
• Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
• If staff want to receive a calendar invitation for future talks, please encourage them to register here
today.

SAVE THE DATE for the next Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #12: Healthy Eating in the Holiday
Season
• We will hold another DHMOSH PH Conversation Series seminar to share information on "Nourishing
Joy: Healthy Eating in the Holiday Season" this Thursday, 16 November at 9 am EST.
• If you or your staff would like to receive a calendar invite to this talk, please register here today.

5
Recent iSeek Articles
• As a resource, please see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your
use/dissemination:
• Don’t wash your chicken! (8 September 2023)
• Protect against rabies; vaccinate your pets (28 September 2023)
• Be Heard! Answer the UN Staff Health and Wellness Survey 2023 (2 October 2023)
• The vital role of food and nutrition in holistic health (11 October 2023)
• Sources of lead poisoning in your own home (26 October 2023)
• World Polio Day: What you can do (30 October 2023)
• Are you at risk for type 2 diabetes? (14 November 2023)

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

6
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (28 August 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Animal Bites
o The French version of UN Public Health Technical Guidance For The Prevention And
Management Of Rabies is newly updated and now available for your information.
• Cholera
o In light of increasing Cholera outbreaks around the world, including in the DRC, we want to
share with you this UN DHMOSH Cholera website for your reference. This site contains an
information brochure for staff, UN Medical Director's Risk Mitigation Plan and other helpful
resources.

2021 UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey

• As part of the UN Staff Health and wellness survey, UN Secretariat entities were provided with a
worksheet to help identify key areas of success and areas that need improvement, as well as a list of
easy-to-implement interventions for each health metric. We hope that these could help them create a
feasible action plan to tackle each of the important findings from this survey.
• If you have any thoughts or are interested in sharing your action plan with us, please contact dos-
dhmosh-public-health@un.org.
• Introduction of the survey, key highlights and the full export results are available for your reference.

UN Secretariat Mental Health Dashboard - 2021 UN Health Survey

• The UN Secretariat Mental and Well-Being Dashboard based on the results of the UN health survey
undertaken in 2021 has been launched recently. This dashboard includes key findings and sections on
psycho-social risk factors, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and domestic abuse. Users can filter
the results by entity, duty station, and demographics (gender, age, marital status, and staff category).
• You can find out more at: https://iseek.un.org/nyc/article/launch-secretariat-mental-health-and-well-
being-dashboard.

UN Global Health Challenge

• The Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) is excited to
announce that the long-awaited UN Global Health Challenge is back! Sign up to FALL IN, STEP UP! and
improve your overall health by “stepping” for 90 days from 11 September to 9 December 2023. Join
your duty station’s country team and aim to reach a combined average of 10,000 steps a day. It’s all
about teamwork. You can also form your own team with select colleagues and friends, or even your
department or division as a team building exercise! Visit https://hr.un.org/page/fall-step-un-global-
health-challenge-2023 for more information.

Join in DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #11: Body Positivity, Nutrition, and Having Fun
• We will hold another DHMOSH PH Conversation Series seminar to share information on "Body
Positivity, Nutrition, and Having Fun". This activity is coordinated with LifeSum.
• If staff want to receive a calendar invite to this talk, please encourage them to register here today.

7
More Recent iSeek Articles
• As a resource, see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your use:
o Fall in, Step up! Join the UN Global Health Challenge 2023 (28 August 2023)
o One Life, One Liver (4 August 2023)

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

8
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (7 July 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Animal Bites
o We are pleased to inform you that a new page on Animal Bites has been created on our HR
Portal under the Disease-Specific Information subpage. This page provides key information for
staff on prevention of the disease and includes the new UN Public Health Technical Guidance
For The Prevention And Management Of Rabies (English).

• COVID-19
o The UN Medical Directors’ Risk Mitigation Plan for COVID-19 (ENG) has been revised to be
aligned with WHO’s latest quarantine and contact tracing recommendations on 29 June.

• Influenza
o In order to reduce the risk of UN personnel and their dependents from contracting influenza,
the United Nations Medical Directors (UNMD) have developed specific recommendations for
UN personnel. Please consult the UNMD Influenza Risk Mitigation Plan (English / French) and
be sure to implement UNMD’s recommendations for the risk category that you fall under.
These recommendations will be updated as new information and guidance become available.
o More key information for staff on prevention of this disease can be found here on our HR Portal
under the Disease-Specific Information subpage.

2021 UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey

• As part of the UN Staff Health and wellness survey, UN Secretariat entities were provided with a
worksheet to help identify key areas of success and areas that need improvement, as well as a list of
easy-to-implement interventions for each health metric. We hope that these could help them create a
feasible action plan to tackle each of the important findings from this survey.
• If you have any thoughts or are interested in sharing your action plan with us, please contact dos-
dhmosh-public-health@un.org.
• Introduction of the survey, key highlights and the full export results are available for your reference.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• Under the advice of the Office of Legal Affairs, we have just developed a new “HIV PEP INFORMATION
SHEET” that must be handed over to personnel in addition to HIV PEP guidelines. The information
sheet provides a snapshot of the process and tools required while using the UN HIV PEP kits. The HIV
PEP Information sheet does not replace the UN HIV PEP guideline, but it provides essential information
that the patient must pay attention to while accessing the PEP services.
• We have also updated the Custodian and Patient Reporting Form with "specific consent information"
that the patient must read and acknowledge before administration of the kit.
• All custodians must print the new HIV PEP information sheet and Custodian and Patient reporting form
and hand them over to personnel accessing the PEP services.

9
 • The UN Medical Director HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Guideline must be provided to all UN
personnel accessing the HIV PEP services. More information and the guidelines are available here:
https://hr.un.org/page/hiv-and-aids

Join in DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #11: Body Positivity, Nutrition, and Having Fun
• We will hold another DHMOSH PH Conversation Series seminar to share information on “Body
positivity, nutrition, and having fun". This activity is coordinated with LifeSum.
• If staff want to receive a calendar invite to this talk, please encourage them to register here today.

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

10
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (6 June 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• COVID-19 - WHO declared that COVID-19 PHEIC was over on 4 May 2023
• On 4 May, the WHO Director-General concurred with the advice offered by the International
Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic. He determines that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue
which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). You
can read WHO’s statement here (English / French).

• COVID-19 - Extension of the temporary and extraordinary transitional measures

• The current transitional measures for the resumption of uniformed rotations, repatriations and
deployments to and from United Nations peacekeeping and relevant special political missions,
which are valid until 30 April 2023, are extended until further notice. Please see the attached
Code Cable for more information.
• The pre-deployment testing and requirement to show negative COVID-19 PCR test taken
within 72 hours prior to deployment date, will continue to be mandatory, irrespective of
COVID-19 vaccination status, until further notice. Written proof of a negative test result must
be presented to the mission upon arrival. Missions are required to keep electronic records of
those PCR test results. The completion of a full COVID-19 vaccination primary series, as well as
booster shot/s, continue to be strongly encouraged to ensure personal protection against the
virus.
• Compliance with these measures remains mandatory for all missions. It should be noted that all
measures are subject to change, should the prevailing outbreak dynamics globally warrant it.
• With WHO declaring that COVID is no longer a PHEIC, this policy is currently being reviewed.
If it is revised, further instructions will be disseminated soon.

• UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Typhoid (French Version)

• Under the Disease-Specific Information subpage on our HR Portal, we provide key information
for staff on prevention of the diseases, including Dengue, Meningococcal Disease/Meningitis,
Typhoid, and Yellow Fever.
• For each of these diseases, we have also developed a UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan
for all UN personnel. Amongst them, UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Typhoid
(French Version) is newly updated and now available for your information.

• Influenza
• In order to reduce the risk of UN personnel and their dependents from contracting influenza,
the United Nations Medical Directors (UNMD) have developed specific recommendations for
UN personnel. Please consult the UNMD Influenza Risk Mitigation Plan (English) and be sure to
implement UNMD’s recommendations for the risk category that you fall under. These
recommendations will be updated as new information and guidance become available.
11
 • More key information for staff on prevention of this disease can be found here on our HR Portal
under the Disease-Specific Information subpage.
• We had given an influenza training session on 27 March 2023 in light of the avian influenza
news, you can watch the presentation on the current Avian Influenza surveillance.

• Marburg Virus Disease

• The Tanzanian Ministry of Health recently confirmed that the Marburg virus outbreak is over in
the country. During this period, many resources were provided and available to duty stations
on this disease found here: https://hr.un.org/page/marburg-virus-disease

Pilot Disease Surveillance Program for Peacekeepers

• For your information, the Public Health Team is implementing a pilot Public Health Surveillance
System for four selected UN DPO field operations with the ability to expand it further to all duty
stations where UN personnel serve. Target missions include MINUSCA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, and
UNMISS. These duty stations were selected based on the high rate of malaria incidence.
• The Public Health Surveillance System will provide information that can be used for health action by
the DHMOSH Public Health Team as well as other stakeholders (e.g., field medical staff) to help inform
policy and decision making, allocate resources, develop public health programs, and identify key areas
for education and training. The data will be collected on a de-identified and aggregate basis and will
provide a rich pool of data upon which UN’s public health policy and response can be based.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• The DHMOSH Public Health team organized a HIV and PEP meeting on 22 February 2023 for HIV focal
points, advisors, PEP custodians and other HIV/PEP stakeholders.
• The presentation introduced the new HIV PEP dashboard available at this link, and the new PEP
Custodian Online Directory, available at this link.
• Participants were informed that access to the HIV PEP Dashboard would only be granted upon request
to DHMOSH while. The Custodian directory can be accessed using the personnel Unite ID login.
• In addition, if you did not attend the meeting, there is also a video presentation on how to navigate the
directory and the dashboard are available at the links below:
• HIV PEP Kit Program Dashboard User Training Video: https://youtu.be/TbEmz1cpL-Q
• HIV PEP Kit Custodian Directory User Training: https://youtu.be/NZHyoA6wNv8
• Note that all HIV/AIDS and HIV PEP resources can be accessed at the UN HR Portal dedicated webpage
at this link.

UN Global Health Challenge

• “HEART & SOLES”, the 60-day UN Global Health Challenge which started on Valentine’s Day to
encourage UN personnel to improve their cardiovascular health by “stepping”, concluded on 14 April
with an average of 9,036 steps logged by 1,363 UN personnel participating from multiple duty stations
around the world.
• We have published “Getting Health is My New Normal”, a new series in iSeek featuring some of our
steppers’ inspiring stories and experiences. The latest iSeek article can be found below for your
perusal.
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 17 (9 March 2023)

12
Nutrition App (LifeSum) Program for UN Personnel
• We launched a new nutrition app program for UN personnel on 26 April. Free licenses for the LifeSum
app were offered to UN staff globally on a first come first served basis, and all licenses were claimed
within 2 hours since the broadcast.
• This program provides staff with access to the Lifesum program to track nutrition, explore different
meal plan options, participate in personal challenges, and track fitness and water intake. In addition,
Lifesum will provide four webinars with UN input with options for live cooking demonstrations,
presentations on nutrition by Lifesum Registered Dieticians, and potential inclusion of other Lifesum
sourced experts based on our preferences. These will also be recorded for sharing for those that are
unable to attend. The first is tentatively planned for July.
• If interested, you may see the iSeek article published by our team to see more information - Get your
free UN weight management app now! (26 April 2023).
• For other questions, visit the UN Healthy Diet and Weight Management Programme page.

More Recent iSeek Articles

• As a resource, see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your use:
• Yes! We can end TB (24 March 2023)
• Public Health Conversation: 'The Brains that Refuse to Age' (29 March 2023)
• The importance of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life (19 April 2023)
• Time to deliver zero malaria (1 May 2023)
• Grow Food, Not Tobacco (31 May 2023)

Listen to The Importance of Nutrition for the First 1,000 Days of Life - DHMOSH Public Health Conversation
Series #10!
• Thank you to the over 160 participants of our April 5th DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series talk
on “The Importance of Nutrition for the First 1,000 Days of Life”.
• Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
• If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.

Listen to The CDC Worksite Health ScoreCard: A Tool to Advance Workplace Health Promotion Programs
and Practices - DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Series Seminar #4!
• Thank you to the over 110 participants of our May 3rd DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Series talk
on “The CDC Worksite Health ScoreCard: A Tool to Advance Workplace Health Promotion Programs
and Practices”.
• Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
• If staff want to receive a calendar invite to this talk, please encourage them to register here today.

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

13
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (7 March 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• NEW - UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Dengue, Meningococcal Disease/Meningitis,
Typhoid, and Yellow Fever
• We are pleased to inform you that four new pages have been created on our HR Portal under the
Disease-Specific Information subpage. These pages provide key information for staff on prevention
of the diseases and include Dengue, Meningococcal Disease/Meningitis, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever
• For each of these diseases, we have also developed a UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan
for all UN personnel. See the links below here for more information:
• UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Dengue (English / French)
• UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Invasive Meningococcal Disease (English /
French)
• UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Typhoid (English)
• UN Medical Directors Risk Mitigation Plan for Yellow Fever (English / French)

• Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

• On 11 January 2023, health authorities in Uganda declared the end of the outbreak of Ebola virus
disease (EVD) caused by Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), which was first reported in September 2022.
• Since the start of the outbreak, a total of 142 confirmed cases with 55 confirmed deaths were
reported. Outbreaks of EVD are a known risk for Uganda, and this was the fifth EVD outbreak
caused by SUDV reported in the country, the last in 2012.

• Lassa Fever in Ghana

• Ghana reported an outbreak of Lassa Fever on the 24th of February 2023. A total of 14 cases has
since been confirmed, with one death and more than 56 contacts since the onset of the current
outbreak. Lassa Fever (a Viral Hemorrhagic fever) is endemic in most West African Countries
(Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone).
• More information on Lassa Fever is available for UN personnel on the UN Lassa Fever Page here
https://hr.un.org/page/lassa-fever. Please also consult the UN Medical Director’s Risk Mitigation
Plan for Lassa (English / French).

• Marburg Fever in Equatorial Guinea

• In light of the news that Equatorial Guinea confirming its first Marburg fever outbreak, we want to
share with you this UN DHMOSH Marburg virus website for your reference. This site also contains
the latest Marburg virus UNMD Risk Mitigation Plan for your review/implementation as needed.
More information regarding this outbreak can be found here.

2021 UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey

• A total of 4,620 UN Secretariat personnel worldwide responded to this 2021 Survey (including from
DPO peacekeeping missions and DPPA political mission) which represents 11% of the total UN
Secretariat personnel world-wide. The following key findings, both positive and those that need further
improvement, have been communicated to all Heads of Departments and Offices, Regional
14
 Commissions, Offices Away from Headquarters and Field Missions through a UN memo dated 6
December 2022.
• PDF versions of the UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey and Interactive Dashboard and an
Introduction/Presentation are available for downloading.
• You can also watch the video Introduction to the UN Staff Health and Wellness Dashboard on YouTube.

UN Global Health Challenge

• February is American Heart Month and DHMOSH Public Health launched a “HEART & SOLES: UN Global
Health Challenge 2023” on Valentine's Day to encourage UN personnel to improve their cardiovascular
health by “stepping”. The challenge runs for 60 days until 14 April 2023. Invite UN personnel in your
duty station to join this fun activity. More than 300 slots are still available.
• We have published ”Getting Health is My New Normal”, a new series in iSeek featuring some of our
steppers’ inspiring stories and experiences. The latest ISeek articles can be found below for your
perusal.
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 13 (9 January 2023)
• Healthy is my new normal, part 14 (21 February 2023)
• Healthy is my new normal, part 15 (27 February 2023)
• Healthy is my new normal, part 16 (3 March 2023)

More Recent iSeek Articles

• As a resource, see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your use:
• Gynaecologial Health and Cervical Cancer: Early Detection is Key (24 January 2023)
• Know Your HIV status: Get Tested! (8 February 2023)

Listen to The Brains that Refuse to Age Talk, DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series #8!
• Thank you to the over 130 participants of our January 26 th DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series
talk on “The Brains that Refuse to Age”.
• Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
• If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.

Listen to COVID-19 Global Updates in Year 4 of the Pandemic: DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series
Seminar #9!
• Thank you to the over 100 participants of our February 28 th DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series
talk on “COVID-19 Global Updates in Year 4 of the Pandemic”.
• Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
• If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.

Public Health stories from the field

• Here we feature interesting public health & health promotional campaigns from the field.
• With a strategy that prioritizes integration and inclusivity, the UNMISS Health Services have
consistently delivered health campaigns with the theme “Health Promotion and Diseases Prevention
through Lifestyle modification” to UNMISS civilian and uniform personnel, as well as UNMISS
contractors and UN Agencies, Funds, and Programs resident in the UNMISS compound.
• For more information, please see the attached UNMISS report.

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

15
 • If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

16
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (9 January 2023)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Yellow Fever: See WHO information on the Yellow Fever situation in WHO Africa.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON431 WHO recommends
vaccination for all international travelers going to areas at risk for yellow fever transmission. WHO
recommends avoidance of mosquito bites, including the use of repellents and insecticide-treated
mosquito nets for those in high-risk areas.

2021 UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey

• Thank you very much to all those who participated in the 2021 UN Secretariat Staff Health and
Wellness Survey! A total of 4620 Secretariat personnel globally responded to this survey, representing
an 11% response rate.
• The survey results have been visualized and are now available here in a comprehensive 13-page Power
BI dashboard. Introduction of the survey, and key highlights are further available. If you prefer, the
exported full results are also available here.
• The Public Health Team will reach out to individual missions/duty stations to discuss individualized
findings and recommendations.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• A new “UN System HIV PEP Kit Program: Interactive Dashboard” and a live “UN System HIV PEP Kit
Program: Custodian Directory” has been developed.
• The new “UN System HIV PEP Kit Program: Interactive Dashboard” provides an overview of the HIV
PEP kits usage in all locations while using the UN supplied HIV PEP Kits.
• The “UN System HIV PEP Kit Program: Custodian Directory” enables organizations and personnel to
locate HIV PEP custodians and relevant information to access HIV PEP services in their locations.
• For further information on the above, please reach out to dos-dhmosh-hiv@un.org

UN Global Health Challenge

• 663 Steppers just completed the 30-day ADIEU 2022 from December 2 to 31. The mini-UN Global
Health Challenge was intended to keep steppers engaged before the year ended. A total of
145,594,202 steps were logged giving an individual Daily Average of 7,320 steps. The low participation
and less-than-average step count were expected due to the holidays and the onset of winter in many
duty stations.
• We have published Getting Health is My New Normal, a new series in iSeek featuring some of our
steppers’ inspiring stories and experiences. The latest three articles can be found below.
□ Getting healthy is my new normal, part 10 (7 December 2022)
□ Getting healthy is my new normal, part 11 (12 December 2022)
□ Getting healthy is my new normal, part 12 (5 January 2023)

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More Recent iSeek Articles

● As a resource, see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your use:
□ Collect and share your family health history this holiday season (21 December 2022)
□ Key findings of the Secretariat 2021 Health and Wellness Survey (3 January 2023)

SAVE THE DATE! Join in the next DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #8 on January 17 th

● Please help disseminate the attached health promotion flyer about our next DHMOSH Public Health
Conversation Series talk for all UN personnel, held on January 17th, 9:30 AM EST.
● Dr. Alexandra Touroutoglou, an internationally renowned expert in aging and dementia will discuss
“The Brains that Refuse to Age”.
● If staff want to receive a calendar invite to this talk, please encourage them to register here today.

SAVE THE DATE! Join in DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Seminar #9: COVID-19 Global Updates in
Year 4 of the Pandemic on February 28th

● We will hold another DHMOSH PH Conversation Series seminar led by Dr. Daniel Lucey to share
information on “COVID-19 Global Updates in Year 4 of the Pandemic " on February 28th, 9:30 AM EST.
● If staff want to receive a calendar invite to this talk, please encourage them to register here today.

Get To Know Your Colleagues!

● We want to introduce our United Nations medical colleagues from around the world in each
newsletter. Send us photos of your team to be featured!
● Below is the group photo for BANMED 2/1 hospital medical team and blood donors in Bouar
(MINUSCA) who recently worked to save a patient.
● Sitting (Left to right): Lt Col Maksud Ahmmad, Lt Col Nasrin Begum, LT Col Villalobos Avellanb, Col Md
Saydur Rahman, Maj Rameesa Mirza, Maj Mohamed Amr Afifi, Capt Torres Giuria, Lt col Md Abu Baker
Siddique
● Standing (Left to right): Cpl Atikul Alom, Maj Most Suraiya Akhter, Maj Sabiha Mahboob, Maj Md
Mukshudus Saleheen, Maj Rasha Rahman, Maj Mohammad Ashraf Parvez, Maj Md Husenuzzaman
Chowdhury, Maj Md Faisal Huda, Maj Md Arif Hossain, Capt Md Shamim Hossain, Maj Estacio
Gonzales, Sgt Azmol, Snk Zulfikar Alom, LCpl Mayeen Uddin

18
About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

● If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

19
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (7 December 2022)

*Please click on the hyperlinks for more detailed information for each point

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• COVID-19
• The COVID-19 Transitional Measures for Troops has been updated to remove the requirement
of in-mission 5-day quarantine for arriving contingents. (Effective 1 Nov 2022)
• The UN Medical Directors’ Recommendations for Additional COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster
Doses has been updated (Oct 2022).

• Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

• Due to the current EVD outbreak in Uganda, a new EVD Staff Travel Advisory has been posted
on DSS’s TRIP portal for staff who are travelling into Uganda.
• A new ISeek article for UN staff, Ebola Virus Disease: What You Need to Know, has been
published (26 Oct 2022)
• A DHMOSH Ebola one-stop web page is available for all staff and UN health care workers. It
includes important UN and other authoritative resources, including:
• EVD Posters and Factsheets
• Memo to all Missions on PPE and medical supplies for Standard Precautions & Viral
Hemorrhagic Fever Disease Management Including EVD
• DHMOSH’s Overview, Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Ebola Virus Disease
(conducted 2 Nov 2022) (Video / PowerPoint)
• DHMOSH Training on PPE Use and Triage for Ebola Virus Disease (conducted 2 Nov
2022) (Video / PowerPoint)

• Cholera
• A DHMOSH Cholera one-stop web page is available for all staff and UN health care workers.
• A new presentation on Cholera Clinical Management and Prevention is available (conducted 21
Nov 2022) (Video/PowerPoint).
• Please contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org for any questions related to cholera vaccine.

• Measles
• WHO and CDC jointly published that in 2021, nearly 61 million measles vaccine doses were
postponed or missed due to COVID-19-related delays in immunization campaigns in 18
countries. Delays increase the risk of measles outbreaks and now is the time for public health
officials to accelerate vaccination efforts and strengthen surveillance. For more information,
visit here and here.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• A new presentation on Preventing HIV Stigmatization presented by Stephen Talugende, UNIFIL (6 Dec
2022) is (Video/PowerPoint)
• DHMOSH has recently completed the deliveries of 2752 HIV PEP Kits to 162 countries and duty
stations. In addition, 3,554 UN HIV PEP Guidelines documents, 2,891 Custodian and patient reporting
forms and 2,873 physician assessment forms were sent to countries with the HIV PEP kits.
20
 • Your offices should have by now received new set of HIV PEP Kits. Please email dos-dhmosh-
hiv@un.org if you have any problems with receiving the kits.

UN Global Health Challenge

• The 90-day “Healthy is the New Normal: UN Global Health Challenge 2022” just ended on October 29.
Average of all daily steps logged by 3,000 participants in 80 UN duty station teams around the world
was 9,523 steps. 5 teams reached the top Highly Active status, logging a daily average of 12,500 steps
or more during the course of the Challenge. 17 teams got Active status with an average of 10,000 to
12,499 steps per day. 600 steppers reached/exceeded the average 10,000/day step target
recommended by WHO.

• Many of our GHC steppers have inspiring stories to share. Check out their experiences in these iSeek
articles here for inspiration, and please join the next time it opens up!
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 2 (3 October 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 3 (10 October 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 4 (18 October 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 5 (24 October 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 6 (31 October 2022)
• UN Amazing Race makes exercising fun (3 November 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 7 (7 November 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 8 (14 November 2022)
• Results of the 2022 UN Global Health Challenge (22 November 2022)
• Getting healthy is my new normal, part 9 (28 November 2022)

Recent iSeek Articles

• As a resource, see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your information:
• World Diabetes Day 2022 (14 November 2022)
• Antibiotics do's and don'ts (30 November 2022)
• World AIDS Day 2022: Equalize! (1 December 2022)
• Let's focus on men’s health (2 December 2022)

DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series #7: Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss

• If you missed it, check out our iSeek article and video of our last Public Health Conversation Series on
Intermittent Fasting, available here and here.
• If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.

Join the CASEVAC Hub Community!

• On behalf of UNMERT, we would like to share about the Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) Hub which is a
Community of Practice for sharing information, guidance, and learning related to casualty
management in the United Nations.
• If you would like to learn more about medical emergency preparedness and response strategies or if
you would like to become a more proficient actor in these high-stress situations, check out
the CASEVAC Hub community.
21
 • You can also read the iSeek article on CASEVAC Hub HERE.

Get To Know Your Colleagues!

• We want to introduce our United Nations medical colleagues from around the world in each
newsletter. Send us photos of your team to be featured!
• Below is the medical team of BINUH Level 1 Clinic, Port-au-Prince, Haiti composed of 2 doctors, 1 nurse
and a driver. Unfortunately, the nurse is on leave.
• From left to right we have: Bob Claude (Driver), Dr Emmanuel Ghangha (CMO), Dr Stephanie Dargout
(Medical Officer).

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

• If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

22
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (30 September 2022)

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak in Uganda

□ There has been a recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease caused by the Sudan virus (SUDV) in
Uganda. See Ebola Disease caused by Sudan virus - Uganda and WHO Ebola Virus Disease for
more information.
□ To support you, we have a DHMOSH one-stop web page on Ebola with important UN resources,
including the “UN Medical Directors’ Ebola Prevention Recommendations to All UN Personnel”
(English / French).

• Monkeypox
□ A DHMOSH one-stop web page on Monkeypox is available to support you as needed.
□ On this page, you will find the English and French versions of the recently updated “UN Medical
Directors’ Risk Mitigation Plan for Monkeypox”.
□ A new DHMOSH Monkeypox Powerpoint Presentation has been created based on this RMP.
□ Free clinical resources are also available for all UN health workers.

• Influenza
□ Note that in March 2022, WHO’s new Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Severe
Influenza continues to recommend oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for those with severe influenza or risk
factors for severe illness.
□ General information on influenza is also available here.

HIV/PEP Kit Program

• On 31 August, a presentation on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV-PrEP) was delivered by the Public
Health experts to more than 200 UN health workers, HIV PEP custodians, HIV PEP country managers
and other stakeholders. You can check out the video recording of the talk here and see the
presentation here

UN Global Health Challenge

• We are now in the final leg of the 90-day Healthy is the New Normal: UN Global Health Challenge
2022 which ends on October 29. More than 1.1 billion steps have already been logged by 3,000
participants in 80 UN duty station teams around the world. We have also started publishing Getting
Health is My New Normal, a new series in iSeek featuring some of their inspiring stories and experiences.

Listen to Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss Talk, DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series #7!

● Thank you to the over 600 participants who registered for our 27 September DHMOSH Public Health
Conversation Series talk on “All You Need To Know About Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss”.
● Video recording of this session and all previous episodes in the series can be found here.
● If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.
23
Recent iSeek Articles

● As a resource, see below list of recent DHMOSH Public Health iSeek articles for your use:
□ World Rabies Day is Today (September 28,2022)
□ Getting healthy is My New Normal, Part 1 (September 26, 2022)

Public Health stories from the field

• Here we feature interesting public health & health promotional campaigns from the field.
• On 3rd September, UNMISS conducted a health promotion and disease prevention campaign for 126
UNMISS personnel in Juba. Health education, medical consultations, counselling and testing on HIV,
and general counselling were provided on demand. BMI, blood sugar, and blood pressure of the
participants were recorded and reported. See photos of UNMISS medical staff with DMS.

24
Get To Know Your Colleagues!

● We want to introduce our United Nations medical colleagues from around the world in each
newsletter. Send us photos of your team to be featured!
● Below is the senior team of the UNRWA Department of Health at Headquarters in Amman, Jordan.

25
About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

● If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that we can offer,
please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

26
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (4 August 2022)

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• COVID-19
□ The “UN Medical Directors’ Risk Mitigation Plan for COVID-19” (ENG/FR) has been revised to
be aligned with WHO’s latest quarantine and contact tracing recommendations.
□ Similarly, the “COVID-19 Guidance on Isolation Wards, Quarantine Facilities and Configuration
of TCC/PCC Barracks” (ENG) has been revised to align with WHO recommendations.

• Monkeypox
□ The “UN Medical Directors’ Risk Mitigation Plan for Monkeypox” (ENG) has been updated to
include information on the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
announcement by the WHO. The French version is forthcoming soon.
□ A DHMOSH one-stop webpage on Monkeypox (ENG) is available for your reference.
□ In case interested, see below DHMOSH’s iSeek articles on Monkeypox that could be useful as
general information to staff in your duty station.
● Monkeypox in multiple countries: call for caution not alarm (July 1, 2022)
● Updates on the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox (August 2, 2022)

Chronic Disease Prevention

• Global Health Challenge

□ Thank you for helping us disseminate info to your staff! We are happy to announce that all
3000 slots have been filled up for the 2022 Global Health Challenge: “Healthy is the New
Normal”, which runs from 1 August – 29 October. Participants will get together in country
teams and aim to walk/run at least 10,000 steps daily.

• Public Health Conversation Series Talk for All Staff on 27 September

□ The Public Health Conversation series is back and aims to encourage all UN staff to form
healthy habits for living. Please spread the word about our next talk on September 27 by Dr
Jason Fung, a world’s leading expert on intermittent fasting. Look out for more information
coming soon, and any staff who want to be on the mailing lists for future talks can register here

2021 UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey

● Thank you for all your efforts to help us disseminate this survey! Our team is currently in the process
of consolidating and analyzing results of the 2021 UN Staff Health & Wellness Survey of UN
Secretariat staff globally. This survey will provide very useful baseline information on the health &
wellness of staff and enable us to strategize on staff health and wellness programs.
● An interactive Power BI dashboard based on the survey results will soon be shared with the mission’s
medical services, senior management, and staff of Secretariat entities. Note that the first phase of
results & analysis will feature the questions related to physical health only; we expect that the
questions related to mental health would be disseminated at a later stage by our mental health
colleagues.

27
HIV/PEP Kit Program

● The team has worked very hard to prepare the new batch of HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Kits
for delivery to duty stations worldwide as the current kits have expired. Over 3000 PEP kits have been
procured and are enroute to your duty stations. For any questions, contact dos-dhmosh-hiv@un.org
● Please note that it is mandatory to report any usage of HIV PEP kits to DHMOSH by submitting the
Custodian and Patient reporting form (ENG/FR) and the Physician Assessment forms (ENG/FR) to dos-
dhmosh-hiv@un.org
● The latest PEP kit guidelines are available here (ENG/FR) and the one-stop PEP Kit webpage is
available here

Get To Know Your Colleagues!

● We want to feature our UN colleagues from around the world each week. Send us photos of your team
to be featured!
● Today we feature the medical team of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

● If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that can be offered
to you, please see here

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

28
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (17 November 2021)

About the DHMOSH Public Health Team

● If you would like to learn more about DHMOSH Public Health’s work and support that can be offered
to you, please see here

Learn about Hypertension at our last Public Health Conversation series

● Thank you to the 419 participants who joined us on the talk by Dr Michael Weber, a leading global
expert on hypertension, to hear tips on “How to Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure”
● If you missed it, catch it here at your convenience and feel free to share with staff and colleagues!
● If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.

Importance of Using Disease Data to Guide Public Health Action

● Thank you to the over 153 participants of our last Public Health Leadership Series talk where Lesliann
Helmus from the CDC discussed the “Use of Disease Data to Guide Public Health Action”
● If you missed it, catch it here at your convenience!
● If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks, please register here today.

On HIV & PEP Kits

● Thank you to the 58 participants who joined us on 16 November at our last Quarterly HIV Meeting on
“What’s Hot in HIV: Trends, Diagnosis and Management”
● If you missed it, catch it here at your convenience!
● A new introductory HIV PEP Kit video for UN personnel is available here in English and French. Please
feel free to disseminate to staff in your duty station for their general information.

Get To Know Your Colleagues!

● We plan to feature our UN colleagues from around the world each week.
● Today we feature the medical team of the UN Clinic in Liberia, comprising 2 doctors, 4 nurses (2 short-
term surge nurses), 1 lab technician and 1 ambulance driver (not in photo) and 1 cleaner.
● Left to right: Head nurse Annie Robinson, Dr Filmon Beraki, Dr Mohammed Kamara, Surge nurse
Oretha Paye, Lab tech Joseph Koryon, Surge Nurse Lawretor Peterson, Nurse Martin Mambu. Sitting:
Cleaner Eunice Konateh

29
Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

30
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (6 October 2021)

On COVID-19

● Please see this COVID-19 vaccination presentation given recently at a UNMISS townhall, for your
adaptation/use.
● If you wish our team to support you in in giving this presentation “COVID-19 Vaccines and Why You
Should Get Vaccinated” to your staff locally, contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Cholera, Yellow Fever, Lassa fever in Nigeria

□ Nigeria is battling several outbreaks including cholera, yellow fever, COVID-19, Lassa fever,
measles, and monkeypox.
□ For Cholera, see this DHMOSH webpage on Cholera, and the “UN Medical Directors’ Risk
Mitigation Plan for Cholera” (ENG/FR). A “Staff Info Leaflet” is also available here.
□ For Lassa fever, see this DHMOSH webpage on Lassa fever, along with the “UN Medical
Directors’ Risk Mitigation Plan for Lassa Fever” (ENG/FR). A “Staff Info Leaflet” is also here.

Join our Next DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series Talk next Tuesday! (Attached Flyer for
Distribution)

● Please help disseminate the attached health promotion flyer about our next DHMOSH Public Health
Conversation Series talk for all UN personnel, held next Tuesday, October 12th, 9 AM EST
● Dr Michael Weber, the world’s leading expert on hypertension and preventive cardiology will share tips
for UN staff on ”How to Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure”.
● If staff want to receive a calendar invite to this health promotion talk, please encourage them to
register here today.

Listen to Our Last DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Seminar Talk!

● Thank you to the over 150 participants of our last Public Health Leadership Series talk on “Essential
Leadership Skills for Medical & Public Health Practitioners”
● If you missed it, catch it here at your convenience! If you want to be on the mailing list for future talks,
please register here today.

Get To Know Your Colleagues!

● We plan to feature our UN colleagues from around the world each week.
● Today we feature the medical team of MONUSCO Beni UNOE Level 1 Clinic, comprising 2 doctors, 2
nurses and 1 ambulance driver who also acts as medical waste manager.
● Sitting L-R: Nurses Judith Kahandavukya & Zorica Tomic / Standing L-R: Dr Bobby Othigo, Ambulance
Driver Ntumba Mukendi & Dr Luc Victor

31
Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

32
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (23 September 2021)

Infectious Disease Outbreaks & Guidelines

• Plague in Madagascar
□ Madagascar is currently experiencing an outbreak of pneumonic plague after its last large-scale
outbreak in 2017. As of 12 Sept, WHO reports a total of 30 cases and 7 deaths.
□ The DHMOSH Webpage on Plague has been updated, along with the “UN Medical Directors’
Risk Mitigation Plan for Plague” (ENG/FR) Please review the document as needed.

• Meningitis / Meningococcal Disease Outbreak in DRC

□ WHO reports that as of 18 Sept, a total of 608 suspected cases and 161 deaths have been
reported in the Banalia health zone, DRC. For more WHO info on this outbreak, see here.
□ A new DHMOSH webpage on Meningitis/Meningococcal Disease is now available
□ Both English and French versions of DHMOSH’s “Guidelines on Management of Meningococcal
Disease Outbreaks” is also newly available (ENG/FR).
□ In DRC, UN health workers should be sensitized to identify and manage any potential cases,
including clinical management with ceftriaxone. Staff should be notified to be aware of
symptoms to be monitored, when to seek care and how to prevent transmission of meningitis.
At-risk staff populations should be vaccinated with the Meningitis W Vaccine.

UN System HIV PEP Kit Program

● A new UN HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Program Video has been developed by DHMOSH in
collaboration with CDOTS/DOS.
● The 5-minute video introduces all staff to the HIV PEP Program and is targeted at all UN personnel,
including managers, UN health care workers, PEP custodians and HIV focal points.
● Additionally, a new DHMOSH HIV and PEP webpage is also now available for all existing information
and DHMOSH resources on HIV PEP.
● Please feel free to distribute the above resources as necessary to staff.

Join our Next DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Series Seminar #2 next Thursday!

● Our next DHMOSH PH Leadership Series seminar for public health and medical staff will be held next
Thursday, September 30th, 9:30 AM EST
● Dr Stephen Thomas will return to discuss “Essential Leadership Skills for Public Health Practitioners”
● If you want to receive an invitation to this talk, register here today

Listen to Our Last DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Talk on Weight Management!

● Thank you to the almost 460 participants who attended our last Public Health Conversation Series talk
on “How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off”! If you missed it, catch it here at your convenience

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

33
DHMOSH Public Health – Important Policy & Events Brief (13 September 2021)

Guidance on Latest Infectious Disease Outbreaks

• NEW – Guidelines on Management of Meningococcal Disease Outbreak (Attached document)

□ A large meningitis outbreak with a 50% case-fatality rate was recently declared in the Tshopo
province, DRC. Tests confirmed the cause of some cases to be Neisseria meningitidis, the
causative agent of meningococcal disease. Whilst the affected area has currently no known
presence of UN personnel, we nevertheless take the opportunity to remind all duty stations on
how to identify and manage meningococcal disease outbreaks.
□ Duty stations, especially those in the “meningitis belt”, should review and implement the
attached guidance as needed.

• UPDATED – Ebola Virus Disease Risk Mitigation Plan (ENG/FR)

□ With the recent Ebola outbreak occurring in Ivory Coast, this UN Medical Directors’ guidance
has been updated to include consideration of the EVD vaccine.

• NEW – Marburg Virus Disease Risk Mitigation Plan (ENG/FR)

□ With the new MVD case identified in West Africa, a new UN Medical Directors’ MVD Risk
Mitigation Plan providing recommendations to UN personnel has been developed in English
and French.

Thank you for Participating in UN-Wide Health Survey

● Thank you for everyone‘s participation on this survey. This health survey closed on 23 August with
over 19,000 responses received from all UN System entities, and almost 5000 responses received
from Secretariat organizations alone! Survey analysis is ongoing and a report from the survey results
will be issued when ready.

Join our Next DHMOSH Public Health Conversation Series this Thursday! (Attached Flyer for Distribution)

● Please help us disseminate the attached flyer to your staff to inform them of our next Public Health
Conversation Series talk, held this Thursday, September 16th, 9 AM EST
● Dr Angela Fitch, Associate Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center, faculty at the
Harvard Medical School and Vice President of the Obesity Medicine Association will share tips on “How
to Lose Weight and Keep It Off”
● If you want to receive an invitation to this talk, register today at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UNHealthChampions

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

34
DHMOSH Public Health - Policy & Events Brief (13 septembre 2021)

Orientations sur les dernières épidémies de maladies infectieuses

● NOUVEAU - Lignes directrices sur la gestion des épidémies de méningococcie (document joint)
• Une importante épidémie de méningite avec un taux de létalité de 50% a récemment été
déclarée dans la province de la Tshopo, en RDC. Des tests ont confirmé que la cause de certains
cas était Neisseria meningitidis, l'agent causal de la maladie méningococcique. Bien qu'il n'y ait
actuellement aucune présence connue de personnel des Nations Unies dans la zone affectée,
nous profitons néanmoins de l'occasion pour rappeler à tous les lieux d'affectation la manière
d'identifier et de gérer les épidémies de méningococcie.
• Les lieux d'affectation, en particulier ceux situés dans la "ceinture de la méningite", devraient
revoir et mettre en œuvre les directives ci-jointes selon les besoins.

● MISE À JOUR - Plan de réduction des risques liés à la maladie à virus Ebola (ENG/FR)
• Avec la récente épidémie d'Ebola en Côte d'Ivoire, ce guide des directeurs médicaux des
Nations Unies a été mis à jour pour inclure la prise en compte du vaccin contre la Maladie à
Virus Ebola (MVE).

● NOUVEAU - Plan de réduction des risques liés à la Maladie à virus Marburg (ENG/FR)
• Avec le nouveau cas de la Maladie à virus Marburg (MVM) identifié en Afrique de l'Ouest, un
nouveau plan de reduction des risques de MVM des directeurs médicaux de l'ONU fournissant
des recommandations au personnel de l'ONU a été développé en anglais et en français.

Merci d'avoir participé à l'enquête de santé de l'ONU

● Merci à tous pour votre participation à cette enquête. Cette enquête sur la santé a été clôturée le 23
août avec plus de 19 000 réponses reçues de toutes les entités du système des Nations Unies, et près
de 5000 réponses reçues des seules organisations du Secrétariat ! L'analyse de l'enquête est en cours
et un rapport sur les résultats de l'enquête sera publié dès qu'il sera prêt.

Participez à notre prochaine série de conversations sur la santé publique DHMOSH ce jeudi ! (Dépliant ci-
joint pour distribution)

● Aidez-nous à diffuser le dépliant ci-joint auprès de votre personnel afin de l'informer de la prochaine
conférence de la série de conversations sur la santé publique, qui aura lieu ce jeudi 16th Septembre à 9
heures (Heure de New York).
● Le Dr Angela Fitch, directrice associée du centre d'amaigrissement de l'hôpital général du
Massachusetts, membre du corps enseignant de la faculté de médecine de Harvard et vice-présidente
de l'association de médecine de l'obésité, partagera ses conseils sur le thème "Comment perdre du
poids et ne pas le reprendre".
● Si vous souhaitez recevoir une invitation à cette conférence, inscrivez-vous dès aujourd'hui à
l'adresse https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UNHealthChampions.

Vous avez des questions ? Contactez dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

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DHMOSH Public Health Policy & Events Brief (23 August 2021)

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

● Ivory Coast has reported its first known case of Ebola virus disease since 1994.
● All UN guidelines for EVD preparedness and response is available here
● The UN Medical Director’s Ebola Risk Mitigation Plan is being updated and a new version will be
available shortly on the website.

Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)

● Guinea has confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in the southern Gueckedou prefecture. For
more information, please review WHO’s MVD fact sheet
● WHO’s guidance on MVD infection prevention and control in health care settings is available here.

On COVID-19

● Reminder that the latest COVID-19 FAQ for staff are available here

DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Seminar Series

● Our first training webinar for public health practitioners was held on 18 August and featured guest
expert Dr Stephen Thomas.
● Watch “History of the Military & Infectious Disease” here. Register here for future sessions.

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

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DHMOSH Public Health Policy & Events Brief (16 August 2021)

On COVID-19

● UPDATED - DHMOSH Guidelines on Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome following COVID-

19 Vaccinations (ENG)
⮚ This guidance has been updated such that any patients with relevant symptoms within 30 days
of receipt of adenovirus vectored COVID-19 vaccines should be considered as suspect cases.

● REMINDER – Report all Outbreaks through Online Reporting Tool

⮚ As many locations are facing the third wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, please stay vigilant and
continue to monitor for outbreaks in your duty stations.
⮚ If you have a new outbreak, please enter them into the Outbreak Response Tool here. This
outbreak report is sent daily to senior management of the UN hence it is important that you
keep it updated.

Vaccinations & Malaria Prophylaxis

● UPDATED - UN Medical Directors Vaccination & Malaria Prophylaxis Recommendations for UN

Personnel on Official Travel & UN Health Care Workers ENG/ FR
⮚ A new presentation version is now available here.

Make Your Voice Count: UN-Wide Health Survey!

● All staff in Secretariat organizations are encouraged to complete this UN-wide Health Survey 2021 on
their health & well-being (generic password “UNHealth2021”). We have received over 4000 UN
Secretariat responses so far but would love more responses. Deadline for this survey has been
extended to August 22. Spread the word to your colleagues and with your staff!

Join the DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Seminar Series

● All United Nations public health and health professionals are invited to join us on August 18 th, 9 AM
EST to discuss the “History of the Military & Infectious Disease” & “Leadership Lessons from COVID-
19“ with guest expert Dr. Stephen Thomas. Register today at Become a DHMOSH Public Health Leader
- Sign Up Here! Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

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DHMOSH Public Health Policy & Events Brief (9 August 2021)

HIV & Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Kits

● NEW DHMOSH Guidelines on HIV Testing in UN Health Facilities (ENG)

● This document aims to support UN healthcare workers with key information on how to provide
HIV testing as part of health care services to all UN personnel. Note: As of 2019, the WHO
recommends replacing western blotting and line immunoassays with simpler tests in HIV testing
services, including rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) Three
consecutive reactive test results are now required to make a HIV –positive diagnosis. HIV tests
can be procured by all duty stations directly from UNFPA. See here for more information.
● NEW HIV & PEP Kit Program UN Webpage (ENG)
● Comprehensive information on HIV & the UN System’s PEP Kit program is now available here

Vaccinations & Malaria Prophylaxis

● UPDATED UN Medical Directors Vaccination & Malaria Prophylaxis Recommendations for UN

Personnel on Official Travel & UN Health Care Workers (ENG/ FR)
● French version is now available. Details of the guidance will be presented at one of the Monday
morning weekly meetings.

Make Your Voice Count: UN-Wide Health Survey!

● All staff in Secretariat organizations are encouraged to complete this UN-wide Health Survey 2021 on
their health & well-being (generic password “UNHealth2021”). Deadline for this survey has been
extended to August 15. Please spread the word to your colleagues and with your staff!

Join the DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Seminar Series

● All UN medical and public health professionals to join us on August 18th, 9 – 10:15 AM EST to discuss
the “History of the Military & Infectious Disease” & “Leadership Lessons from COVID-19“ with guest
expert Dr. Stephen Thomas. Register today at Become a DHMOSH Public Health Leader - Sign Up Here!
Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

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DHMOSH Public Health Policy & Events Brief (2 August 2021)

Review Latest Staff Travel Vaccinations & Malaria Prophylaxis Guidelines

● UPDATED UN Medical Directors Vaccination & Malaria Prophylaxis Recommendations for UN

Personnel on Official Travel & UN Health Care Workers here
o Provides overarching guidance on travel vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis recommended for
staff & for health care workers.
o A detailed presentation will be made on Monday 9 August at the weekly clinical meeting..

Help disseminate the UN-Wide Health Survey to staff!

● All staff in Secretariat Organizations are encouraged to complete this UN-wide Health Survey 2021
on their health & well-being (generic password “UNHealth2021”).
● Deadline for this survey has been extended to August 15. Please spread the word!

Register for Upcoming DHMOSH Public Health Leadership Seminar Series

● Inviting all UN medical and public health professionals to join us on August 18th, 9 AM EST to discuss
the “History of the Military & Infectious Disease” with guest expert Dr.. Stephen Thomas..
● Invite your colleagues to register their interest at Become a DHMOSH Public Health Leader - Sign Up
Here! Survey (surveymonkey.com)

All Things COVID-19

● UPDATED UN Medical Directors’ COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan (Guidance ENG / FR and Presentation
ENG / FR).
⮚ French versions are now available
● NEW UN Medical Directors’ Guidance to UN Health Care Workers on Documentation of COVID-19
Vaccines ENG / FR
⮚ The French version is now available

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

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DHMOSH Public Health Policy & Events Brief (26 July 2021)

All Things COVID-19

● UPDATED UN Medical Directors’ COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan (Guidance ENG and Presentation
ENG).
● This updated version provides new recommendations for UN personnel who are fully vaccinated
against COVID-19 (Section 12)

● NEW UN Medical Directors’ Guidance to UN Health Care Workers on Documentation of COVID-19

Vaccines here
● Provides new information to all UN medical staff on how to document COVID-19 vaccinations
onto WHO Yellow Card

● NEW UN Medical Directors’ Risk Management Framework for Decision Makers on Return to the
Workplace here
● This document provides a broad framework to senior decision makers to help them develop a
local return-to-the workplace policy. Any questions, please contact osh@un.org

● NEW UN Transitional Measures for Uniformed Personnel Rotations in a COVID-19 Environment here
● This document supersedes the previous transitional measures for uniformed personnel rotations
and maintains the previous 14-day quarantine policies pre-deployment and post-arrival in-
mission for formed units (even for uniformed personnel who are fully vaccinated). Additionally,
all uniformed personnel should have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to deploying.

Public Health Monthly Conversation Series for All UN Staff

● Are you and your staff interested in getting healthier? Check out our previous DHMOSH Public Health
Conversation Series talks here on nutrition, exercise, sitting too much and alcohol. Encourage your
staff to subscribe to our mailing list here to receive information on upcoming talks.
● Our next talk will be on Obesity and Weight Loss on September 16, Thursday.

Calling All Public Health Practitioners & Leaders!

● A monthly DHMOSH Public Health Leadership webinar series for all UN medical and public health
practitioners will start in August. We will share information resources, ideas and tools for you to grow
as public health leaders. Register your interest here today!

Encouraging all UN Secretariat Staff to participate in UN Health Survey

● Over 20 United Nations entities are joining together to conduct a collective Health and Wellbeing
survey this year! Encourage your staff in Secretariat organizations to respond to the survey at UN-
wide Health Survey 2021 (generic password UNHealth2021). Make your voices heard and participate
in shaping future approaches to health and wellbeing policies in the UN by responding to this survey
today!

Got Questions? Contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org

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