By joining forces to stop TB and COVID-19

Message from Dr. Tereza Kasaeva,
Director, WHO Global Program Against TBO

WHO / Elena Longarini

Dear colleagues, partners and friends,

The current COVID-19 crisis has been a test for countries, health systems, key stakeholders and those providing health services in the first place. In the presence of new health threats such as COVID-19,
it has become even more critical to protect the most vulnerable and ensure continuity of care for those struggling with current epidemics such as tuberculosis (TB). This is a time for resilience, quick learning, and urgent life-saving action. On
at the forefront of these efforts are health heroes: nurses, doctors, and other health professionals. Today, on International Nurses Day, I would like to welcome their tireless commitment to alleviating suffering and saving lives, at the risk of their own.

While we look forward to mitigating suspension measures in many countries this week and in the coming weeks, we must seize the opportunity to build on lessons learned and establish measures to mitigate future crises and disruptions.
health services for those in need.

Since January 2020, when Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General declared a new coronavirus outbreak (2019-nCoV), an emergency of international public health concern, Global WHO TB
The program, with regional and national offices, in close collaboration with partners and civil society, monitors the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides guidance and technical support to countries. We also collect data and experiences
patients with COVID-19 with a concomitant or previous history of TB to document the natural medical history and outcome of those patients. Here are some of the most important:

• January onwards (still ongoing): Regular coordination with WHO regional and national offices, partners and civil society to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on TB services. Technical assistance, guidance and support are provided
  states on service delivery, infection control, and drug supply management and diagnostics.
• March: On March 20, the WHO issued an information note on the review for TB services during the COVID-19 crisis. The note was developed with input from WHO regional and national offices, key partners and civil society, including USAID,
  Stop the partnership against TB, the Global Fund and the WHO Civil Society Working Group on Tuberculosis. On March 24, the WHO organized an online discussion on the World TB Day program, in which Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, gave a speech. – pointed out Dr. Tedros
  the importance of continuing efforts to address long-standing health problems, including tuberculosis during global epidemics such as COVID-19. He said: “COVID-19 highlights how vulnerable people are with lung disease and a weakened immune system
  Could be. The world is committed to stopping tuberculosis by 2030; Improving prevention is key to making that happen. Millions of people need to be able to take preventive treatment against tuberculosis to stop the onset of the disease, prevent suffering and save lives. ”
  A joint virtual urbanhall organized with Stop TB Partnership at TB and COVID was shown.
• April: A scientific summary of BCG vaccination and COVID-19 was published on 12 April. At the end of April, two webinars were organized by the WHO and the Stop TB Partnership on TB and COVID.
• May: WHO modeling and analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on TB mortality was published on 4 May. The model is used to inform planning and budgeting for TB prevention and care and to create a basis for funding needs.
  an analysis was also conducted across 6 WHO regions on the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of national anti-TB programs.

In parallel with these efforts to combat TB and COVID-19, we continue with the main functions for the global response to tuberculosis. This includes the development and adoption of new guidelines, in March we published new guidelines on preventive treatment against TB. Countries continue
be supported, develop your capacity, implement new guidelines, ensure continuity of care and strengthen accountability. We are also working to complete the Global Strategy for TB Research and Innovation and the UN Secretary-General
Progress Report against TB in 2020.

The coming months will be critical for all of us, especially for those with TB and COVID-19. We need to focus on the following key actions:

• Ensure effective measures to prevent and control infection to protect the health and safety of healthcare professionals, staff and patients. Personal protective equipment should be provided for all medical personnel involved in the provision of care
  and TB and COVID-19.
• Stop against stigma and discrimination and promote the human rights of the most vulnerable. Stigma and fear about infectious diseases such as TB and COVID-19 prevent a public health response. Governments, citizens, media and communities
  they play an important role in preventing and stopping stigma.
• Increase the height simultaneous tests on TB and COVID-19, taking into account the similarity of symptoms (cough, fever, and difficulty breathing), and is based on exposure or the presence of risk factors. While the countries are preparing
  In order to share existing molecular testing platforms on COVID-19, it will be necessary to maintain current molecular diagnostic services for TB patients.
• Promote access people-centered prevention and care services, Prevention and care in the household and community should be preferred over inpatient treatment of TB patients (unless severe conditions require
  hospitalization) to reduce transmission possibilities. These include recommended WHOs, all oral TB treatments against TB, and multiple resistant TB. Digital adherence technologies can help bridge the communication gap.
  Preventive treatment against TB should be provided for household contacts, especially taking into account the increased risk of exposure.
• Build and strengthen the engagement of the community, youth and civil society to close gaps in care. Community health workers, youth volunteers and civil society can be engaged in finding those who are at risk or those who are affected
  TB and / or COVID-19 with care. We must harness the potential of these groups while ensuring effective infection control and protection measures for them. Please read the touching story from China about Xu Xinghua – a tuberculosis survivor
  he now acts as a volunteer and peer counselor for TB patients through an online peer support group in China. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, Xu had to cross the line of duty to ensure that people with
  TB gets continuous treatment.

Dear colleagues, partners and friends; the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for greater preparedness and solidarity to ensure access to health care in times of crisis. We need to learn from this experience and come out victorious. Commitments,
and the goals set by heads of state and other leaders to accelerate action to combat tuberculosis must be kept even in crisis, with the support of adequate investment. We need to do this to protect the lives of the millions of people who struggle with TB every day and endure
the gains we have made in the fight against TB.

Now is the time for solidarity and action. Let’s join forces and intensify the fight to stop TB and COVID-19 – we will only succeed united.

Dr. Tereza Kasaeva
Director
Global anti-TB program
World Health Organization

#ThanksHealthHeroes
Friend caregiver: equal-peer support for TB sufferers
Xu Xing-hua (Yunnan, People’s Republic of China)

WHO information and questions and answers to questions about TB and COVID-19

New WHO recommendations to prevent tuberculosis are aimed at saving millions of lives

The Global TBO Program, together with regional and WHO country offices, has developed an Information Note in collaboration with stakeholders. This note is intended to assist national anti-TB programs and health personnel to maintain continuity urgently.
basic services for people with TB during the COVID-19 pandemic, guided by innovative people-centered approaches, as well as maximizing joint support in the fight against both diseases.

Read Informative note.

Access new questions and answers
on TB & COVID-19

WHO modeling analysis: predicts the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world deaths in 2020

The WHO has published the results of modeling work on the projected short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB mortality in 2020. The results show that TB mortality will increase significantly in 2020 and will primarily affect the highest vulnerable patients with TB. If the detection of global TB cases decreases by an average of 25% over a period of 3 months (compared to the level of detection before the pandemic), an additional 190,000 TB deaths are predicted (an increase of 13%), leading to a total of 1.66 million TB deaths in 2020. This number has approached the global TB mortality rate in 2015, a major step forward in achieving the goals of the UN High Level Meeting on TB and the World Health Organization to fight tuberculosis. Read the analysis

Community-based health care, including dissemination and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Community-based health care is an important part of primary care at all times; in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the capacity of trusted community members for social engagement and care where needed is ever expressed. critical. This joint WHO, UNICEF, and IFRC guide discusses the role of community health care in the context of a pandemic. Includes practical recommendations for decision makers to keep the community and health professionals safe, maintain basic services at the community level and ensure an effective response to COVID-19. Using this comprehensive and coordinated approach will help countries strengthen the resilience of community health services pandemics, in early recovery still. Read more

COVID-19 and national anti-TB programs:
Summary of findings in six WHO regions

Preliminary analysis revealed several challenges. These include slowing down routine and grounded cases of findings and diagnosis in all WHO regions; human resources for TB increasingly involved in COVID-19 response efforts; pad TB
case reports in several countries with heavy loads; lack of real-time TB surveillance data, which hampers countries’ ability to assess the situation in terms of reduced case notification and access; various levels of disorder in all
6 WHO areas related to drug procurement and procurement and diagnostics. Situations and shortages of stocks were observed in several regions, and a decline in regular TB treatment services in all regions. country
The WHO has advised a shift to the provision of outpatient tuberculosis treatment and care services in the community.

In parallel, however, countries have taken positive steps, with some implementing innovative people-centered case-finding strategies. Different approaches are used in countries to distribute drugs to patients at home, including
through greater involvement of community and civil society actors in service delivery.

WHO and Stop TB Partners joint webbars:
Coping with tuberculosis during the COVID-19 crisis

Access the webinar and presentations here.

Scientific work:
Vaccination against Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and COVID-19

There is no evidence that Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) protects people from infection with the COVID-19 virus. Two clinical trials are underway to address this issue and the WHO will evaluate the evidence
when available. In the absence of evidence, the WHO does not recommend BCG vaccination for the prevention of COVID-19. The WHO continues to recommend neonatal BCG vaccination in countries or environments with a high incidence of tuberculosis.

Read more