Lessons from the field: delivering trachoma mass drug administration safely in a COVID-19 context. (21st July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amanyi-Enegela, Juliana A; Burn, Nicholas; Dirisu, Osasuyi; Ebenso, Bassey; Sankar, Girija; Ishaya, Rinpan; Ogoshi, Christopher; Kumbur, Joseph; Ekweremadu, Bright; Qureshi, Babar M
• Is Part Of: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Volume 115:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: 1102
• Page End: 1105
• Publication Date: 2021-07-21
• Subjects: COVID-19 context -- mass drug administration -- neglected tropical diseases -- trachoma; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9203

Abstract

Abstract: The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) interim guidance released by the World Health Organization recommended suspension of non-urgent community health interventions, including mass drug administration (MDA) for neglected tropical diseases. However, with no end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic, it was crucial to find ways to restart MDA while testing measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission between health workers, volunteers and communities. Consequently, guidelines were developed for delivering MDA safely in a COVID-19 context and the training and implementation were assessed through an observation checklist. The study also gathered data on the feasibility of using the MDA platform to disseminate COVID-19 health education. The results suggest that delivering MDA safely in a COVID-19 context is possible but revealed significant challenges in using the MDA platform for COVID-19 education.