Blog

One year into the global COVID-19 pandemic, much of the global focus is currently going to vaccination rollouts, but treatment options are still limited. However, dexamethasone, an essential medicine which has been around for decades (listed by WHO since 1977) – is one of the few approved treatments for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Within the context of upcoming International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8, we approached a few of our female agents and distributors with some questions regarding gender equality.

This month, IDA supplied 500 oxygen concentrators to Dubai and Ghana for one our largest customers to be distributed to various end destinations in Africa and Asia.

New partnership broadens access to oncology treatments across Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Western Pacific

IDA Foundation has published its annual Product Indicator. This booklet provides an overview of the products we supply. The sections on diagnostics and medical supplies are also available in French in addition to English. All medicines and supplies in the Product Indicator are grouped according to the WHO classification of Essential Medicines as listed in the Essential Medicines List (EML).

In 2020, we were all challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the crisis also provided an opportunity to reflect on what's important, whether we are in a crisis or not. More than ever, it has become clear that solid health systems are indispensable when fighting both pandemics and endemics. If we want to overcome any global health crises, we all need to work together.

World AIDS Day, held on December 1 since 1988, is an international day dedicated to creating awareness of the HIV/AIDS burden worldwide. Thus far, of the approximately 38 million people with HIV worldwide, around 26 million are on retroviral therapy, which is triple the number in 2010 (UN Report, 2020). Furthermore, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 56% since 2005 (UNAIDS, 2019). Despite these achievements, significant challenges remain, with increasing rates of infections in key communities.

Today marks the beginning of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. This week aims to create awareness around the accelerated threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and stop responding to medicines, increasing the risk of diseases and severe illnesses.

Since the early start of the pandemic we have been supplying PPE and other urgent supplies to countries worldwide, and we have seen the effects of the unforeseen costs that come with it. Budgets need to be reassessed and customers must find a balance between products required and increased transport costs.

Today, October 6, we celebrate Diversity Day at IDA Foundation. For this occasion we asked a few team members, among which our Director HR, to tell us what diversity means to them and how IDA is addressing this.