WHO issues further guidance for NTDs in response to COVID-19 pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published updated interim guidance for the implementation of neglected tropical disease programmes through the recently published ‘Community-based health care, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic’.
The joint guidance, developed by the International Federation of the Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organization and UNICEF follows the NTD guidance published in April 2020 and addresses the specific role of community-based health care in the current pandemic context. It also outlines a series of specific considerations and adaptations to keep people safe, maintain continuity of essential services and ensure an effective response to COVID-19.
“ICTC stands in full support of WHO and welcomes the updated guidance for the implementation of NTD programs”, said Scott McPherson, Chair, International Coalition for Trachoma Control. “Recognising WHO’s recommendation that diagnosis, treatment and care of NTDs for patients presenting to healthcare facilities should continue to the extent possible, ICTC remains committed in partnership with health authorities to explore how existing NTD inteventions, such as WASH/health education opportunities, can support the implementation of COVID-19 – related measures as appropriate.”
The guidance contains specific considerations, including:
Community-based surveys, mass treatment and active case finding should be temporarily suspended. Countries should monitor and re-evaluate at regular intervals the necessity for delaying these activities.
Community-based vector control and veterinary public health interventions should continue with strict precautions (hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing) observed by all participants in areas where there is no community transmission of COVID-19.
In areas with community transmission, only essential activities should be continued. For vector control, essential activities should be interpreted as source reduction of vector breeding sites in and around houses. In areas that are affected by dengue and under stay-at-home measures due to COVID-19, families could work together for 30 minutes every week to get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites, clean roof gutters and ensure that all water storage containers are covered. For veterinary public health, the maintenance of mass animal vaccination campaigns, where required, and euthanasia of rabid animals should be regarded as essential. When handling and caring for animals, basic hygiene measures should always be implemented; these include handwashing before and after handling animals, their food, or supplies.
Community-based WASH activities should continue, with amendments to include key information about preventing COVID-19 in settings where there are no cases of COVID-19. In settings where COVID-19 transmission is occurring, WASH messages should be repurposed to focus on preventing COVID-19 transmission.
Upon detection in a given geographical area of (a) a sudden increase in the incidence of NTD infections or (b) a significant burden of disease, the decision to resume or commence active case finding or mass treatment campaigns, or both, will require a risk-benefit assessment on an event-by-event basis; the assessment must factor in the health system’s capacity to effectively conduct safe and high-quality health interventions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This guidance does not cover ensuring access to diagnosis, treatment and care of NTDs for patients presenting to health care facilities, which should continue to the extent possible. In some settings, the only care for NTDs is through outreach initiatives and some adaptation of previous clinical pathways may be indicated. For example, for people being treated for leprosy, provision of sufficient medicine for 3 months instead of 1 month of treatment could be considered to reduce the number of attendances required.