STATNEWS: Poor countries have made extraordinary progress against epidemic disease. We need to learn

[SheltieLover]

[link:https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/16/poor-countries-extraordinary-progress-fighting-epidemics/|

First, we can learn from strategies central to the rapid expansion of HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa as we redeploy scarce health systems resources to treat a surge of Covid-19 patients and sustain basic health services. Task shifting, or transferring responsibilities to lower levels of providers, including community health workers, was essential to overcoming severe workforce shortages and geographical barriers to care.

Second, the early failure of many countries to address rising rates of HIV marginalized populations — sex workers, users of injected drugs, the LGBTQ communities, and others — until the epidemic spilled over into the general population reminds us of the danger of disease control strategies that replicate patterns of discrimination or social prejudice. Protecting the most vulnerable communities and ensuring equitable access to treatment for all, including undocumented and incarcerated individuals, will be essential to stemming the spread of Covid-19.

Third, community-led efforts during the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa teaches us about the critical role of local leadership in overcoming resistance to social distancing and other public health measures. Local leaders in Liberia and Sierra Leone organized neighborhood campaigns to identify and isolate cases of Ebola in dense urban slums and worked with religious leaders to stop body washing, a burial practice associated with widespread disease spread.

Fourth, and most importantly, biomedical advances or technology did not alone propel the gains we see globally. Rather, it was a global movement for equity in access to them. Scientists, activists, civil servants, patients, health care providers, and communities came together to battle for access to drugs, forcing systems to deliver them. It is critical that we begin a similar movement to ensure equitable access to personal protective equipment, diagnostics, and other essential supplies, as well as to treatments and vaccines when they become available.

Wonderful article. Much more at link.

[mitch96]

1. I was just listening to NPR and they has the health minister of Iceland talking

Iceland is still open to business. They have very little virus spread. They TEST TEST TEST. They test everybody. They have also found that half the population not sick are carriers. They also quarantine and isolate the sick to prevent transmission. We could do this here although it would be a royal pain in the ass.
I also follow this world traveler on her motorcycle. She got stuck in Peru and had to fly back to the Netherlands. While driving thru Peru there were many check points that interviewed people and took temperatures of the people. She also got numerous covid tests on route.
We don't have to re invent the wheel here. Look and see what works in other places and DO THAT..
Dump the politics and DO WHAT WORKS.
M