THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared 2021 the International Year of Health and Care Workers to recognise the “dedication and sacrifice” of the millions of workers on the Covid-19  front line.

WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “We need to collectively strengthen our investment in training healthcare personnel to end the Covid-19 pandemic and achieve health for all.”

The organisation has said that vaccinating the entire health sector worldwide is a priority as they are the most vulnerable to infection.

At least 1,097 nurses have died since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the International Council of Nurses.

As reported in the Morning Star last month, the Cuba Solidarity Campaign has launched a petition calling for Cuban health workers, who are members of the country’s Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade, to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nearly 4,000 Cuban doctors, nurses and technicians have volunteered alongside health workers in 39 countries to fight the Covid-19 pandemic since April this year.

The medical brigade has saved more than 80,000 lives worldwide since its formation in 2005. The petition can be found at https://bit.ly/CSChealth