Africa CDC: COVID-19 and TB

Dr. Senait Kebede, Adjunct Associate Professor at Emory University, presented on COVID-19 and TB. She began by going over TB control and the COVID-19 pandemic, and delved into TB and the risk of COVID-19 infection, illness, and death. Dr. Kebede also discussed risk factors and prognosis for TB patients, and also examined whether or not all people evaluated for TB should also be tested for COVID-19 and vice versa. Treatment for patients who have both TB and COVID-19 was also presented. Dr. Kebede concluded her presentation by going over sustainability of TB services and how to leverage resources. Dr. Raji Tajudeen, followed and gave a brief high level update on the steps Africa CDC is taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the steps mentioned were the rolling out of a testing initiative, providing member states with community health workers, and the continuation of coordinating with key partners. Following Dr. Tajudeen’s update, Dr. Peter Mabula, Emergency Medicine Physician and Head of Emergency Medicine Department at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center, was the final presenter. He went over Africa CDC’s guidance on implementing physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. He examined ways to engage communities for physical distancing and individual hygiene practices, and also went over ways to support organizations and individuals to practice physical distancing. To conclude the webinar, Dr. Mabula, led a Q&A segment that posed questions asked by participants to the other panelists.