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BIREME and the General Coordination of Disease Elimination Surveillance of the Department of Diseases in Chronic Conditions and Sexually Transmitted Infections of the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health of Brazil (CGDE/DCCI/SVS/MS) signed a technical cooperation project to strengthen the Leprosy VHL within the scope of the TC71 Cooperation Term – Malaria, Leprosy and other Diseases in Elimination, which aims at restructuring the technological platform, expand its collaboration network by promoting the use of the best information to support health and decision-making, besides promoting the regular functioning of the VHL and its information sources.

The PAHO/WHO Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH) uses information and knowledge generated in LA&C and globally to build innovative products and services that aim at supporting evidence-based policies and sound decisions on public health at regional and global level. The series of webinars called ‘EIH Space’ recently brought up the theme ‘Role of EIH in global knowledge management’, which focused on the Global Index Medicus, a WHO initiative supported by BIREME that brings together in a single platform the world literature in biomedicine and public health produced by low- and middle-income countries. Its main objective is to increase the visibility and use of this important set of resources.

Fiocruz celebrates 120 years of foundation on May 25, 2020. Linked to Brazil’s Ministry of Health (MS), it is one of the most outstanding health science and technology institutions in Latin America, internationally recognized for its excellence in Research and Development. BIREME recognizes its longstanding historical relationship of technical cooperation with the Foundation, which has given rise to numerous events, projects and products in information and knowledge management, with several of its institutes.

Evidence Map is an emerging method of knowledge translation that aims to synthesize, identify, describe, and characterize the scientific evidence that exists for a specific topic or health condition. Recently, BIREME adopted and adapted this methodology to systematize and facilitate access to available evidence on the clinical applicability of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICPs), as well as identify gaps in knowledge in this area. Preliminary results point to the usability of certain integrative practices in the treatment of COVID-19, which are already being recommended by the National Health Council.

With the advancement of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distance and isolation, teleworking has become the way to maintain the development of BIREME’s activities, and especially with the support of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that also require Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and continued support and guidance to its employees and users. Several simple ideas can make work less tiring and more enjoyable. Several tools that enable conversations, meetings and even events are being used and improved. In addition, office tools such as text editors and spreadsheets can also be used in the cloud, meaning that no very sophisticated equipment is needed for the user to be able to develop their activities even when they are in a residential environment. You just need an Internet connection.

BIREME entered into emergency teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11th. Despite the challenging scenario, the Center continues to implement actions for the effective performance of its organizational structure of governance, management and operation, aiming at the implementation of its 2020-2021 Biannual Work Plan, within the framework of its technical cooperation for access and management of health information and knowledge.

The Virtual Health Library of the São Paulo Municipal Secretariat of Health (SMS São Paulo VHL), developed through a technical cooperation project with BIREME, since 2011 fulfills its mission to promote, expand, and strengthen technical, scientific and teaching areas, and contributes to the development of public health and the strengthening of the Unified Health System (SUS) in the city of São Paulo. As part of this cooperation, on April 27th, training in Access and use of scientific health information was offered to 40 medical residents.

PAHO/WHO, through the Department of Health Services (HSS), which integrates the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH/PAHO), promoted a Webinar on May 19th, as part of the 2020 celebrations as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, defined by the WHO.

In times of emergency, one of the main elements to consider is information, which is important for both the prevention and response stages. Currently, there exist various sources of information about COVID-19 related to health issues and other areas for decision makers, health professionals and the general public. A large number of sources correspond to Ministries of Health, research institutes and other national agencies. Many of these sources can also be found on the websites of countries’ central offices and PAHO and WHO centers.

On April 21^st, El Salvador formally joined the e-BlueInfo mobile application, becoming the fourth country in the Americas to do so, 16 months after its launch, alongside Peru, Guatemala and Brazil. The APP e-BlueInfo is an Information Platform for Health Practice that puts information in the palm of healthcare professionals developed by BIREME/PAHO/WHO.