HIV, TB, COVID-19 Pose Challenge, Opportunity, Says US-CDC

Michael Olugbode

The Country Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Mary Adetinuke Boyd has said, “the triple epidemic of HIV, TB, and COVID-19 pose a challenge and an opportunity.”

She explained that, “the challenge is that all three diseases are relentless, damaging, and continue to cost countless lives in our communities. However, because detection, treatment, and prevention exist and are readily available to us right here and right now, we have an opportunity to respond and save many lives.”

She said this during the launch of the Rivers State Integrated screening and service delivery for TB, HIV, and COVID-19, in Port Harcourt, recently.

A statement from the US Embassy yesterday, noted that with the support of the US-CDC, the integrated screening and service delivery for the three diseases aimed to integrate COVID-19 screening into points where HIV and TB services were already being provided, thereby improving access to early detection and prevention, and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities and communities.

The statement further added that in addition, the novel initiative would scale up the utilisation of an Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for timely and efficient triage, Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and accelerated vaccine uptake by creating additional access points and communication that promote the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines, thereby reducing the chances of severe illness and death.

Boyd urged healthcare workers to be the champions against vaccine misinformation and disinformation as well as to lead by example in promoting the use of vaccines against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

To date, Nigeria has had three COVID-19 waves and Rivers State was affected, reporting the third most considerable burden of COVID-19 and deaths in the country.

Moreover, due to the government’s commitment to active surveillance, the data showed that each subsequent COVID-19 wave in Rivers had higher peaks in cases and deaths.

Boyd said: “While we battle the COVID-19 pandemic, other disease outbreaks didn’t give us a break; instead, the intensity of cholera and environmental polio in Nigeria soared higher than we’ve experienced in years. It reminds us that these devastating health threats are unpredictable, and even worse, if we are not ready to respond with agility.”

Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, and the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Weneke Danagogo, the Country Director discussed efforts at supporting the state towards tackling HIV, TB, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

She commended the exemplary leadership of the state government towards the health sector leading to essential milestones in HIV epidemic control and the strong collaboration with US-CDC and its implementing partner, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). CDC’s robust support to the HIV response in Rivers has resulted in demonstrable progress, with the state attaining 90 per cent treatment coverage within 24 months.