Publication: How Could the Pacific Restore International Travel?
Loading...
Date
2021-01-19
ISSN
Published
2021-01-19
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
With some COVID-19 vaccines now approved and starting to be rolled-out in several countries globally, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are considering how they can restore international travel with the rest of the world. This report outlines three potential sequential phases of border entry policy in PNG and the PICs: 1. Establishing international travel for cohorts of specific types of travelers; 2. COVID-19 safe travel corridors; 3. A ‘new normal’ – which could involve some combination of: (i) widely available vaccine(s) or treatment; (ii) accurate, rapiddiagnostic and antibody testing; and (iii) fit-for-purpose tracing and health-surveillance capacity.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Blackman, Andrew. 2021. How Could the Pacific Restore International Travel?. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35060 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication The Effectiveness of Policies to Control a Human Influenza Pandemic : A Literature Review(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-02)The studies reviewed in this paper indicate that with adequate preparedness planning and execution it is possible to contain pandemic influenza outbreaks where they occur, for viral strains of moderate infectiousness. For viral strains of higher infectiousness, containment may be difficult, but it may be possible to mitigate the effects of the spread of pandemic influenza within a country and/or internationally with a combination of policies suited to the origins and nature of the initial outbreak. These results indicate the likelihood of containment success in 'frontline risk' countries, given specific resource availability and level of infectiousness; as well as mitigation success in 'secondary' risk countries, given the assumption of inevitable international transmission through air travel networks. However, from the analysis of the modeling results on interventions in the U.S. and U.K. after a global pandemic starts, there is a basis for arguing that the emphasis in the secondary risk countries could shift from mitigation towards containment. This follows since a mitigation-focused strategy in such developed countries presupposes that initial outbreak containment in these countries will necessarily fail. This is paradoxical if containment success at similar infectiousness of the virus is likely in developing countries with lower public health resources, based on results using similar modeling methodologies. Such a shift in emphasis could have major implications for global risk management for diseases of international concern such as pandemic influenza or a SARS-like disease.Publication Risky Business?(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2010-11)This study focuses on, what is believed to be, a key client group of sex workers: mobile workers. While several studies have been conducted in Turkey on sex workers, little evidence exists on their clients, the demand side of the commercial sex market. Research from other countries has shown that mobile workers, who are often working-age males spending significant time away from home, are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and visit sex workers (World Bank, 2009; Kulis et al., 2009; Marck, 1999). The objective of this study is to determine the HIV knowledge, awareness, and behaviors among four mobile worker groups in Turkey that may have elevated risks for HIV infection and transmission: sailors, truck drivers, construction, and tourism workers. International transportation, construction, and tourism are some of the fastest growing sectors of Turkey's economy, and mobile workers in these sectors are believed to be one of the main HIV transmission routes for future infections (Tumer and Unal, 2006). It is important to note two caveats of this study. First, no biomarker data (e.g., HIV testing) was collected from these workers, so conclusions regarding HIV prevalence or concentration of the epidemic cannot be made. Second, the sample did not include other at-risk groups or the general population, so it is difficult to know whether the behaviors are more or less risky in other population groups. Where possible, comparisons with other studies or countries are presented, but there are likely important differences in sampling and methodology. The major contribution of this study, however, is that it characterizes the risk factors within the mobile worker population in Turkey.Publication Animal and Pandemic Influenza : A Framework for Sustaining Momentum, Fifth Global Progress Report July 2010(New York: United Nations, 2010-07)Global efforts continue to work towards ensuring a world capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to animal and public health risks attributable to zoonoses and animal diseases. Drawing on achievements and experiences of the past five years, the fifth global progress report was produced to support the discussions and to provide a record of key outcomes from international ministerial conference on animal and pandemic influenza (IMCAPI). This report presents a framework for sustaining momentum which was agreed by delegates at the April 2010 IMCAPI. The framework offers three streams of work that need sustained attention by national, regional, and global authorities despite the inevitable waning of public interest in pandemic-related issues. The three work streams are: (a) prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), (b) adoption of one health approaches, and (c) readiness for response to influenza pandemics. For each, the framework envisages two expected outcomes and identifies the actions which contribute to these expected outcomes. It identifies the incentives and institutional arrangements needed to sustain momentum, highlights systems for monitoring progress, and spells out investment priorities particularly to support institutions and systems in the least developed countries. To realize these goals, policy makers are moving away from tackling avian and pandemic influenza through emergency projects or special initiatives. Instead they aim for longer term capacity building through pursuit of effective strategies within existing programs, and the mainstreaming of pandemic readiness skills. The right incentives to achieve this transformation need to be identified and used backed with strategic political and financial support, novel institutional arrangements, and easily applied monitoring systems.Publication People, Pathogens, and Our Planet : Volume One - Towards a One Health Approach for Controlling Zoonotic Diseases(World Bank, 2010-01-01)Whether living in urban or rural environments, humans tend to perceive the world around them as being shaped by culture and industry more than by natural history. Humans, however, are part of a biological continuum that covers all living species. Charles Darwin's 200th birthday in 2009 could serve to remind us of this. All animals, including humans but also plants, fungi, and bacteria, share the same basic biochemical principles of metabolism, reproduction, and development. Most pathogens can infect more than one host species, including humans. In 1964, veterinary epidemiologist Calvin Schwabe coined the term "one medicine" to capture the interrelatedness between animal and human health, and the medical realities of preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases or "zoonoses" -diseases that are communicable between animals and humans. One medicine signaled the recognition of the risks that zoonotic diseases pose to people, their food supplies, and their economies. Given the interrelatedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health, the rationale for some form of coordinated policy and action among agencies responsible for public health, medical science, and veterinary services is quite intuitive. Later, the term "one health" came into use, and later still, the broader concept of "one world one health," which is today used to represent the inextricable links among human and animal health and the health of the ecosystems they inhabit.Publication Transport Against HIV/AIDS : Synthesis of Experience and Best Practice Guidelines(Washington, DC, 2009-01)The transport sector is especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Transport workers including long distance truck drivers, seafarers, airline crews and infrastructure construction workers spend long periods of time away from home, often endure harsh working conditions, and may engage in unsafe behavior that can lead to infection. Their mobility makes it difficult to access health information and treatment, or to maintain drug regimen. Transport hubs and construction sites are often considered hot spots due to the influx and interaction that take place among the mobile workers. Furthermore, the sector works as a vector for HIV spread as the opening of new roads connects low and high prevalence areas. The World Bank transport group has been proactively mainstreaming HIV response by assisting client governments to design and implement sector-level interventions. Programs are most developed in the highest prevalence areas, initially in Sub-Sahara Africa and now also in Asia. Support to the sector includes organizing training events to increase staff awareness and knowledge, providing access to research materials, and securing funds to develop or scale up intervention programs. To institutionalize the response, explicit provisions for HIV prevention have been embedded in the standard bidding document. The group also collaborates with local workers organizations with the help of International Transport Workers Federation and the International Labor Organization. Some lessons learned are: (i) strategies must be crafted to meet the specific needs of the country in accordance with the local culture and unique epidemic situations; (ii) coordination with the health sector and the national AIDS authority is necessary for effective program design; and (iii) involving stakeholders from local communities is key to program success.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication The Journey Ahead(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-31)The Journey Ahead: Supporting Successful Migration in Europe and Central Asia provides an in-depth analysis of international migration in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) and the implications for policy making. By identifying challenges and opportunities associated with migration in the region, it aims to inform a more nuanced, evidencebased debate on the costs and benefits of cross-border mobility. Using data-driven insights and new analysis, the report shows that migration has been an engine of prosperity and has helped address some of ECA’s demographic and socioeconomic disparities. Yet, migration’s full economic potential remains untapped. The report identifies multiple barriers keeping migration from achieving its full potential. Crucially, it argues that policies in both origin and destination countries can help maximize the development impacts of migration and effectively manage the economic, social, and political costs. Drawing from a wide range of literature, country experiences, and novel analysis, The Journey Ahead presents actionable policy options to enhance the benefits of migration for destination and origin countries and migrants themselves. Some measures can be taken unilaterally by countries, whereas others require close bilateral or regional coordination. The recommendations are tailored to different types of migration— forced displacement as well as high-skilled and low-skilled economic migration—and from the perspectives of both sending and receiving countries. This report serves as a comprehensive resource for governments, development partners, and other stakeholders throughout Europe and Central Asia, where the richness and diversity of migration experiences provide valuable insights for policy makers in other regions of the world.Publication Economic Recovery(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-04-06)World Bank Group President David Malpass spoke about the world facing major challenges, including COVID, climate change, rising poverty and inequality and growing fragility and violence in many countries. He highlighted vaccines, working closely with Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF, the World Bank has conducted over one hundred capacity assessments, many even more before vaccines were available. The World Bank Group worked to achieve a debt service suspension initiative and increased transparency in debt contracts at developing countries. The World Bank Group is finalizing a new climate change action plan, which includes a big step up in financing, building on their record climate financing over the past two years. He noted big challenges to bring all together to achieve GRID: green, resilient, and inclusive development. Janet Yellen, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, mentioned focusing on vulnerable people during the pandemic. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, focused on giving everyone a fair shot during a sustainable recovery. All three commented on the importance of tackling climate change.Publication Media and Messages for Nutrition and Health(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-06)The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has experienced rapid and significant economic growth over the past decade. However, poor nutritional outcomes remain a concern. Rates of childhood undernutrition are particularly high in remote, rural, and upland areas. Media have the potential to play an important role in shaping health and nutrition–related behaviors and practices as well as in promoting sociocultural and economic development that might contribute to improved nutritional outcomes. This report presents the results of a media audit (MA) that was conducted to inform the development and production of mass media advocacy and communication strategies and materials with a focus on maternal and child health and nutrition that would reach the most people from the poorest communities in northern Lao PDR. Making more people aware of useful information, essential services and products and influencing them to use these effectively is the ultimate goal of mass media campaigns, and the MA measures the potential effectiveness of media efforts to reach this goal. The effectiveness of communication channels to deliver health and nutrition messages to target beneficiaries to ensure maximum reach and uptake can be viewed in terms of preferences, satisfaction, and trust. Overall, the four most accessed media channels for receiving information among communities in the study areas were village announcements, mobile phones, television, and out-of-home (OOH) media. Of the accessed media channels, the top three most preferred channels were village announcements (40 percent), television (26 percent), and mobile phones (19 percent). In terms of trust, village announcements were the most trusted source of information (64 percent), followed by mobile phones (14 percent) and television (11 percent). Hence of all the media channels, village announcements are the most preferred, have the most satisfied users, and are the most trusted source of information in study communities from four provinces in Lao PDR with some of the highest burden of childhood undernutrition.Publication Remarks at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-10-12)World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed biodiversity and climate change being closely interlinked, with terrestrial and marine ecosystems serving as critically important carbon sinks. At the same time climate change acts as a direct driver of biodiversity and ecosystem services loss. The World Bank has financed biodiversity conservation around the world, including over 116 million hectares of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, 10 million hectares of Terrestrial Protected Areas, and over 300 protected habitats, biological buffer zones and reserves. The COVID pandemic, biodiversity loss, climate change are all reminders of how connected we are. The recovery from this pandemic is an opportunity to put in place more effective policies, institutions, and resources to address biodiversity loss.Publication South Asia Development Update, April 2024: Jobs for Resilience(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-04-02)South Asia is expected to continue to be the fastest-growing emerging market and developing economy (EMDE) region over the next two years. This is largely thanks to robust growth in India, but growth is also expected to pick up in most other South Asian economies. However, growth in the near-term is more reliant on the public sector than elsewhere, whereas private investment, in particular, continues to be weak. Efforts to rein in elevated debt, borrowing costs, and fiscal deficits may eventually weigh on growth and limit governments' ability to respond to increasingly frequent climate shocks. Yet, the provision of public goods is among the most effective strategies for climate adaptation. This is especially the case for households and farms, which tend to rely on shifting their efforts to non-agricultural jobs. These strategies are less effective forms of climate adaptation, in part because opportunities to move out of agriculture are limited by the region’s below-average employment ratios in the non-agricultural sector and for women. Because employment growth is falling short of working-age population growth, the region fails to fully capitalize on its demographic dividend. Vibrant, competitive firms are key to unlocking the demographic dividend, robust private investment, and workers’ ability to move out of agriculture. A range of policies could spur firm growth, including improved business climates and institutions, the removal of financial sector restrictions, and greater openness to trade and capital flows.