Experience in mobilizing NGO resources and maintaining continuity of TB services during COVID-19
9/30/2020 12:37 PM
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Stella Bivol, Director of the PAS Center, presented an overview of the risk assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continuity of the tuberculosis control program in nine countries of the EECA region, conducted under TB REP 2.0 at the WHO Regional Office for Europe meeting.
In her presentation, she highlighted the importance of supporting those at the forefront of the healthcare system. This can be done in the following ways:
Eliminate congestion by actively participating in the provision of enhanced home-based DOT and VOT services, by transporting people to health facilities, assisting volunteer doctors with online consultations and home visits for medical procedures or medication delivery.
Support of healthcare workers: PPE for medical personnel, organization of hotel accommodation for medical workers
Provide support for Covid-19 needs: Digital surveillance and GIS for case detection and predictive models of Covid-19
According to Stela Bivol, the focus of civil organizations to ensure resilience in and after COVID-19 should be as follows:
Increase efforts and resources for direct support of the key population (nutrition, basic needs) and home services
Ensuring the protection of personnel and adequate pay
Greater emphasis on virtual service delivery, connectivity and online outreach. For example, OneImpact, and other digital tools to promote adherence to treatment for effective recovery
Pay more attention to information, research and capacity building
Develop social entrepreneurship
It is important to note that Stella Bivol expressed her gratitude to partner organizations for sharing the best practices that they have implemented in countries during the COVID-19 period.
Their experience became the basis for the preparation of this Assessment:
Armenia: “Armenian Network of Positive People”, Center for TB Research and Prevention
Azerbaijan: Saglamliga Khidmat "Ictimai birliyi (Public Association" Health Support")
Kazakhstan: ALE "Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV"
Kyrgyzstan: Public Fund "AIDS Foundation East-West in the Kyrgyz Republic"
Moldova: Act for Involvement, Union of Harm Reduction Organizations, League of People Living with HIV
Uzbekistan: information and educational center of non-governmental and non-profit organization "INTILISH", NGO "Ishonch va hayot" ("Hope and Life")
Tajikistan: Stop TB Partnership
Ukraine "TBpeopleUkraine"
National Tuberculosis Programs for their contribution to risk assessments: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine
The online meeting of leaders and partners of national programs to combat tuberculosis, HIV and viral hepatitis to address the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic was held on September 23-24, 2020.
The Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS Center) is an independent, non-profit organization from Moldova, implementing programs at national and regional level. Our statutory mission is to improve the health and social sector through policy advocacy and evaluation, capacity building and reform support. The PAS Center’s portfolio covers a wide range of public health programs in health systems, communicable and non-communicable diseases and social accountability programs, with a dedicated watchdog capacity. The regional activities include contributing to people-centered health system transformation in 11 countries from Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The PAS Center hosts the platform E-Sanatate.md which includes a network of online products with social utility, including the site Sanatate INFO – a stakeholder-driven media outlet focusing on health issues and reforms.