The novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has not progressed in low- and middle-income countries as predicted. One reason could be that this pandemic response uses structures in local health systems built over decades of responding to past epidemics. For example, closing borders and screening at entry points have been implemented during the West Africa Ebola outbreaks, while contact tracing is an approach used routinely in HIV and tuberculosis response.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FHI 360 are hosting a series of biweekly webinars with global experts to discuss critical aspects of the COVID-19 response, identify best practices and discuss adaptations to optimize responses in low- and middle-income settings.
Dr. Otto Chabikuli and Dr. Doris Macharia are moderating the series. Dr. Chabikuli is the Director of Global Health, Population and Nutrition at FHI 360, and Dr. Macharia is the Director for East and Southern Africa at FHI 360.
- Socially and economically sensitive approaches to distancing: Is there science behind lifting lockdowns?
Dr. Alex Coutinho, Uganda physician and Chair, Board of Directors, International Partnership for Microbicides
Dr. Doris Macharia, Director, East and Southern Africa, FHI 360 - COVID-19 testing: How well do we know this pandemic?
Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Deputy Director, Africa CDC
Dr. Janet Robinson, Director, Laboratory Sciences, FHI 360 - COVID-19 vaccines: What to expect?
Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and Professor, Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University
Dr. Timothy Mastro, Chief Science Officer, FHI 360 - COVID 19 response: Protecting gains made against HIV
Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa and Board of Directors, Africa CDC
Hally Mahler, Director, HIV Programs, FHI 360 - COVID 19 response: Protecting gains made against tuberculosis (TB)
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Professor and Canada Research Chair of Epidemiology and Global Health, McGill University; Director, McGill International TB Centre
Dr. Norbert Ndjeka, Director, Drug-Resistant TB, TB and HIV, National Department of Health, South Africa
Dr. Lisa Stevens, Scientist and Senior Technical Advisor, TB, FHI 360
