The impact of COVID-19 and the restoration of tuberculosis services in the Western Pacific Region

Abstract

We read with great interest the papers by Tadolini et al. , Stochino et al. and Min Ong et al. , which reported issues related to COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) [1–3]. The response to COVID-19, especially the lockdown of the entire society, is likely to cause severe disruption of TB programmes [4–7]. Reduced TB case notifications have been reported from the top three high TB burden countries worldwide, raising concerns of un-interrupted TB transmission and increased TB mortality, thus posing the threat of derailing achievements made so far [4–7]. Furthermore, the process of post-lockdown restoration of TB services matters [7]. A slow restoration course may continue decreasing TB case finding as compared to a more rapid restoration time.

Assessing the Real-Time Impact of COVID-19 on TB and HIV Services: The Experience and Response from Selected Health Facilities in Nairobi, Kenya

“…Second, with COVID-19 likely to become endemic, TB and COVID-19 care and treatment programmes need to think about further integration with respect to screening, laboratory infrastructure and diagnosis, contact tracing and sound infection, prevention and control measures, especially in health facility settings [45]. Resources permitting, more consideration should be given to the use of digital platforms to facilitate case finding and treatment [46]. Kenya also has a large private sector, which in the case of TB serves 20% of all patients registered and treated in the country [47], and this must not be forgotten when it comes to integration and innovation.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis management in Spain

“…Reflecting on this finding may bring opportunities to implement new approaches to ensure TB programs remain successful and apply lessons learned from this emergency. Rapid restoration of TB services is essential to prevent long-term negative impacts (Cilloni et al, 2020), but we can also scale up successful initiatives such as the use of digital tools to cope with a TB epidemic (Chiang et al, 2020;Hopewell et al, 2021;Togun et al, 2020).…”

Operational Research to Assess the Real-Time Impact of COVID-19 on TB and HIV Services: The Experience and Response from Health Facilities in Harare, Zimbabwe

“…These include: better integration and screening of TB and COVID-19 at the health facility and community level; sharing testing algorithms and multiplexing equipment such as GeneXpert platforms within the laboratories; having robust procurement and delivery systems to avoid reagent stock-outs; ensuring effective infection, prevention and control activities within health facilities; having longer 3-month follow-up appointments for patient check-ups and drug collection; providing health information education in health facilities and the community; and mobilizing support networks of TB survivors and TB communities [ 42 , 43 , 44 ]. More use of digital platforms for case finding, drug adherence, management of adverse drug reactions and training have also been recommended as a way of rapidly restoring TB diagnosis, care and prevention services [ 45 ]. The Zimbabwe NTP and MOHCC could consider which, if any, of these innovative approaches might help, and might be feasible and cost-effective to implement.…”