22 June 2020 – Centres in the national primary health care (PHC) network have initiated screening for COVID-19 following training conducted by the Order of Nurses, in collaboration with the PHC department at the Ministry of Public Health.

Staff working in PHC centres started screening for COVID-19 using a triage questionnaire prepared by the Order of Nurses in line with WHO recommendations, including questions on risk factors for COVID-19 infection (travel, contact, high-risk profession such as health care worker), and temperature monitoring.

Around 37% of national PHC network centres have established a dedicated one entrance accessible by beneficiaries to minimize the risk. These PHC centres have been equipped by UNICEF since early March with basic personal protective equipment that allows them to provide services with high quality infection prevention and control measures in place to avoid risk of infection. If an individual has symptoms and has been in contact with a positive case, he/she is considered a suspected case, and the Ministry of Public Health call centre is informed and follows up. 

This allows the continuation of regular activities such as immunization, consultations for individuals with noncommunicable disease, medication dispensation and other activities. WHO, with support from the European Union, is providing essential medications for chronic and acute conditions via the PHC network to ensure continuity of care during the COVID-19 outbreak.