12 Jul Webinar on the Impact of COVID-19 on TB and PHC Services in Nigeria
[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”normal” thickness=”2″ up=”20″ down=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]On June 12th, 2020 Debriche Health Development Centre (DHDC Nigeria) hosted a webinar that brought together parliamentarians, TB survivors, members of civil society, health care workers from primary, secondary and tertiary facilities, serving and past chairmen of Nigeria Medical Association, Academia, public health consultants, communications specialists, policy advisors and TB advocates.
The meeting was moderated by Deborah Ogwuche the Executive Director of DHDC and Dr. Timothy Ikeh a public health consultant.
The webinar was an opportunity for participants to receive first-hand information, share experiences, learn from each other and discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB and primary healthcare services. It was also a chance to seek opportunities to sustain the efforts being made in TB in Nigeria, improve TB case-finding and diagnosis in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss possible steps to achieve universal health coverage.
The meeting brought together technical partners and stakeholders across different sectors to seek new ways to synergize and move the TB program forward, especially now that the COVID pandemic has become a primary denominator for all.
The recommendations from the webinar agreed by all stakeholders were:
- To leverage the impact that COVID-19 has had on mobilizing health resources and eradicate tuberculosis; COVID-19 and TB should not be treated in isolation
- To have consistent sustainable bills targeting national health and improve basic healthcare provision funding
- To integrate TB case finding in COVID -19 testing activities at all levels especially exploring utilization of the GeneXpert machines which were originally procured for TB testing services
- To improve coordination among stakeholders in containing the COVID-19 virus and tuberculosis
- All relevant stakeholders should rally round the National Assembly to support the implementation of the legislative agenda
- National assembly should be proactive in engaging all stakeholders that can support the achievement of the agenda
- To increase advocacy around legislation, government funding and other innovative financing mechanisms, infrastructural development and human capital development
- To strengthen collaboration between the TB program at national and state levels
- To replicate and cascade the national TB program efforts with the presidential taskforce to the state level
- Stakeholders should leverage already existing platforms to ensure that the state TB programs are engaged at the integral part of the state COVID-19 response
- To replicate the same political platform that is being used for COVID-19 for Tuberculosis in Nigeria
- To achieve coordination and synergy between relevant government agencies (NPHCDA, NTBLCP, NCDC and civil society)
- To create a platform for states to learn from each other e.g. state primary health care, state TB program, the state COVID-19 response team, through experience sharing and brainstorming on how to end TB, COVID-19, and primary health care system strengthening in their respective states
- Transfer the same effort, motivation, energy and enthusiasm that we are using to end COVID-19, to end TB
- To integrate the expertise of TB programs into COVID-19 response for a holistic response to both diseases
- Focus attention to sensitize the general public on the differences and similarities between COVID-19 and Tuberculosis
- Better involvement of civil society organizations in COVID-19 response especially in advocacy, sensitization and social mobilization activities using their well-established grassroots platforms
Next steps include:
- Increase collaboration between the National primary health care development agency and the National TB and Leprosy control program to seek joint ways to strengthen the TB service delivery mechanisms in the PHC centers while strengthening other PHC services in Nigeria
- More involvement by the legislative arms of government in TB program planning and implementation especially as lawmakers in the AIDS, TB and Malaria control committee have reiterated their intentions to move the TB agenda forward and create new and favorable legislature to help in the supporting TB response in Nigeria
- Follow up with all relevant stakeholders to hold joint review meetings/webinars to ascertain the level of progress and resolve all bottlenecks clogging the wheel of the TB and PHC program in Nigeria
- Engage and collaborate with youth, celebrities, opinion leaders, social media influencers and media platforms to create more awareness and sensitization on Tuberculosis, Stigmatization of TB patients and COVID-19 survivors in Nigeria
The following is a list of key presentations of the webinar:
EFFORTS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TOWARDS HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGHTENING IN NIGERIA
by Honorable Benjamin Okezie Kalu, member representing Bende Federal Constituency, spokesperson of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Nigeria.
THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS TOWARDS ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE
by RT.Honorable David Emmanuel Ombugadu, member representing Akwanga, Wamba and Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency (2011-2019), Chairman, House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, National Assembly, Nigeria. (8th Assembly)
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TUBERCULOSIS IN NIGERIA
By Dr. Victor Babawale, TB specialist, National TB and Leprosy Control Program made a presentation on the impact of COVID-19 on TB services in Nigeria.
By Dr Garba Bulama Director at National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria.
STOP TB PARTNERSHIP MODELLIZATION STUDY
By Dr. Thandi Katlholo, Programme Officer, (country & community support for impact), Stop TB Partnership, Geneva.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]