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Paintsil E, Alimi Y, Abdulaziz M, Ogbuagu O, Ogunsola F, Kessy SJ, Horsney E, Lee C, Brundney K, Okwor T, Kabwe P, Waheed A, Vondran A, Bigirimana R, Ilesanmi O, Nsubuga DN, Raji T, Mankoula W, Ihekweazu C, Nkengasong J. A continent-wide effort and solidarity at curbing COVID-19 pandemic: the Africa task force for novel coronavirus (AFTCOR) infection prevention and control technical working group's experience. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:893. [PMID: 37189137 PMCID: PMC10184057 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15706-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A continent-wide Africa Task Force for Coronavirus with its six technical working groups was formed to prepare adequately and respond to the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Africa. This research in practice article aimed to describe how the infection prevention and control (IPC) technical working group (TWG) supported Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in preparedness and response to COVID-19 on the continent. To effectively address the multifaceted IPC TWG mandate of organizing training and implementing rigorous IPC measures at healthcare service delivery points, the working group was sub-divided into four sub-groups-Guidelines, Training, Research, and Logistics. The action framework was used to describe the experiences of each subgroup. The guidelines subgroup developed 14 guidance documents and two advisories; all of which were published in English. In addition, five of these documents were translated and published in Arabic, while three others were translated and published in French and Portuguese. Challenges faced in the guidelines subgroup included the primary development of the Africa CDC website in English, and the need to revise previously issued guidelines. The training subgroup engaged the Infection Control Africa Network as technical experts to carry out in-person training of IPC focal persons and port health personnel across the African continent. Challenges faced included the difficulty in conducting face-to-face IPC training and onsite technical support due to the lockdown. The research subgroup developed an interactive COVID-19 Research Tracker on the Africa CDC website and conducted a context-based operation and implementation research. The lack of understanding of Africa CDC's capacity to lead her own research was the major challenge faced by the research subgroup. The logistics subgroup assisted African Union (AU) member states to identify their IPC supply needs through capacity building for IPC quantification. A notable challenge faced by the logistics subgroup was the initial lack of experts on IPC logistics and quantifications, which was later addressed by the recruitment of professionals. In conclusion, IPC cannot be built overnight nor can it be promoted abruptly during outbreaks of diseases. Thus, the Africa CDC should build strong national IPC programmes and support such programmes with trained and competent professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Paintsil
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yewande Alimi
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mohammed Abdulaziz
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Onyema Ogbuagu
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Folasade Ogunsola
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Suzan Joseph Kessy
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Emilio Horsney
- UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, Public Health England, London, UK
| | | | - Karen Brundney
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, USA
| | - Tochi Okwor
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Patrick Kabwe
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ariyo Waheed
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anna Vondran
- Infection Control African Network, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Radjabu Bigirimana
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olayinka Ilesanmi
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | | | - Tajudeen Raji
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wessam Mankoula
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - John Nkengasong
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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