Inuit communities can beat COVID-19 and tuberculosis

Abstract

Inuit communities can beat COVID-19 and tuberculosisInuit communities are at high risk for respiratory infections and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because they are currently fighting another respiratory infection epidemic, tuberculosis. Inuit today are nearly 300 times more likely to get tuberculosis than any Canadian born, non-indigenous person. 1 COVID-19 has been reported in Inuit communities in Nunavik, Canada; however, no case of COVID-19 disease has been reported in Nunavut, Canada. 2 But there is no room for complacency. In Clyde River, Nunavut, the community is already implementing emergency readiness plans for the control of Communities in this area are reachable only by air, have very basic medical care facilities, and have insufficient COVID-19 testing available. If the virus that causes COVID-19 reaches Nunavut, it could have tragic consequences.Defeating infectious diseases requires community-driven responses. Community leadership together with a coordinated public health approach are needed to eliminate tuberculosis in Nunavut. We need the same response for COVID-19. WHO has recognised the need for community-driven responses and encourages implementation of innovative people-centred approaches to tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. 4 Community organisations, such as Ilisaqsivik Society and SeeChange Initiative, have developed a unique collaborative model: 5 a fundamentally community-first approach that provides control, space, and resources for community members to empower themselves to eliminate tuberculosis. It can do the same for COVID-19.The model includes the development of emergency readiness plans (eg, sourcing hygiene materials for the

The “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arctic: regional and temporal dynamics

“…It also pointed to additional vulnerabilities to the pandemic observed in Arctic communities. At the same time, this and other sources also described the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and traditions could be helpful in fighting COVID-19 and similar health emergencies [19,20]. A considerable amount of reporting has focused on the Indigenous Peoples' sufferings, in particular, due to limited access to medical facilities, low quality of care, impacts on elderly and cultural implications [21; 22].…”

Impacto da COVID-19 no controle e reorganização da atenção à tuberculose

“…Em consequência, dada a consagrada determinação social da TB, aponta-se a probabilidade do aumento dos casos nos países que compõem esse grupo e que apresentem alta densidade populacional. (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38) Quanto à categoria Efeitos da COVID-19 na organização dos serviços de saúde, é possível observar semelhanças entre a TB e a COVID-19. As semelhanças relacionam-se: à importância do diagnóstico precoce e da conscientização para o controle de doenças infecciosas, ao estigma social que ambas as enfermidades carreiam, à falta de conhecimento a respeito da suscetibilidade de alguns grupos à infecção e à importância de uma plataforma para o compartilhamento dos dados.…”

“…Aliada à fundamental reversão desse quadro destaca-se a importância de algumas estratégias para Quadro 3. Categorias de análise e seus elementos constitutivos Aumento da vacina BCG na COVID (27,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37) Impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 no controle da TB (2,13,14,17,(19)(20)(21)(22)24,(29)(30)(31)(32)(38)(39)41) Efeitos da COVID-19 na organização dos serviços de saúde (1,15,16,18,23,(25)(26)28) -Efeitos da Vacina BCG na COVID-19 -Influência da COVID-19 no seguimento e na adesão ao tratamento da TB -COVID-19 agrava o contexto de vulnerabilidade social com implicações no controle da TB -Necessidade de reorganização de recursos humanos e materiais voltados à TB e outros agravos para o enfrentamento da COVID-19 -Mudanças gerais na assistência à saúde…”