WHO Meeting on ‘Mitigation and recovery from COVID-19-associated delays: a research agenda for NTD programmes’

"The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously disrupted many national programmes seeking to control, eliminate and eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Disruption has occurred as the combined result of multiple forces, including (a) WHO advice to NTD programmes to postpone community-based surveys, active case-finding activities and mass treatment campaigns until further notice; (b) requisitions of and holds on human and financial resources previously allocated to NTDs; (c) shifts in local health system priorities; (d) health worker absence due to illness, quarantine or care-giving activities; and (e) public health measures to limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission, such as movement restrictions, curfews and suspension of public transport.

Measures to mitigate (now) or recover from (during the post-pandemic transition) the setbacks caused by these things should be considered. To develop the evidence base to allow any novel measures to be recommended by WHO, research will be required.

The meeting proposed here will convene critical stakeholders for a first round of discussions on how such efforts might be developed, coordinated, funded and completed."

To attend the meeting, please register by accessing http://bit.ly/2z2E7vC