The COVID-19 epidemic is obviously one of the main topics this Union Conference. The oral abstract session ‘COVID-19: the great disrupter’ on Thursday 22 October (12.30 CET) forming one of the highlights. In this session KNCV Nigeria’s Country Director Bethrand Odume presents ‘The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on active TB case finding interventions in Nigeria: the KNCV TB Foundation Nigeria experience’. Odume will be showing results from two core interventions: the TB surge and WoW campaigns both have a progressive decline in achievement from the onset of COVID-19 to date.
Dr Chukwuebuka Ugwu, who recently joined KNCV Nigeria as the TB Advisor for Anambra State will also be presenting on the ‘Willingness to test for TB among symptomatic community members in an era of COVID-19: findings from an exploratory mixed methods study from Anambra State, Nigeria’.
With 4.4% of the global total, Nigeria has the highest TB burden in Africa. Resulting in about 154,000 TB deaths in 2019 (Global Tuberculosis Report 2020).This is unnecessary, for with the right treatment and medicines, TB can be cured. KNCV Nigeria has been working with the Nigerian government for four years to stop the TB epidemic. The numbers are falling, and great success is being achieved in the country where HIV and malaria are also common. However, the coronavirus creates an even bigger and new health challenge. KNCV does everything it can to assist the Nigerian government and the Nigerian people to fight both TB and COVID-19.
Recently the Wellness on Wheels (WoW) trucks of KNCV Nigeria were equipped to make COVID-19 testing possible, next to the already implemented TB-diagnostics. These mobile health clinics reach people in remote areas, with low access to healthcare. You can read more about this revolutionary intervention here.
COVID-19 however has caused such a disruption, that even though this is made possible, there has been a decline in achievement in active TB case finding in the WoW campaigns as well as in the TB surge intervention.
Union World Conference oral abstract presentation
Thursday 22nd of October
12:30 – 13:50: COVID-19: the great disrupter
Online/virtual, Channel 4
12:30 – 12:35: Introduction
12:35 – 12:43: OA-14-585-22-The contribution of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections to transmission: a model-based analysis of the Diamond Princess outbreak – Jon C. Emery
12:43 – 12:51: OA-14-586-22-Effect of COVID-19 on TB patient notification in Japan -Kazuhiro Uchimura
12:51 – 12:59: OA-14-587-22-Contacts or care? Impact of COVID-19-related disruption on TB burden – Rebecca C. Harris
12:59 – 13:07: OA-14-588-22-The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on active TB case finding interventions in Nigeria: the KNCV TB Foundation Nigeria experience The COVID-19 epidemic impacted negatively on the tuberculosis (TB) programme in Nigeria. Results from two core, active TB case finding interventions being implemented by KNCV TB Foundation Nigeria – the TB surge and WoW campaigns – showed a progressive decline in achievement from the onset of COVID-19 to date – Bethrand Odume
13:07 – 13:15: OA-14-589-22-Willingness to test for TB among symptomatic community members in an era of COVID-19: findings from an exploratory mixed methods study from Anambra State, Nigeria – Chukwuebuka Ugwu
13:15 – 13:23: OA-14-590-22-Use of virtual and community-delivery platforms to prevent multidrug-resistant TB treatment interruption during the national COVID-19 response: lessons from Uganda – Enock Kizito
13:23 – 13:31: OA-14-591-22-Implementation of psychosocial support services for patients with TB during the quarantine regime due to COVID-19 – Tanya Ismagilova
13:31 – 13:50: Q&A
Did you know?
KNCV has been fighting TB in Nigeria for more than twenty years, with American support and hand in hand with the government. You can read more about our work in Nigeria here. Make sure to also visit the KNCV Nigeria website.
For more information, contact bodume@kncvnigeria.org