Conclusions & Recommendations
27.5.1 - TEC Recommendations to Ethiopia's Trachoma Program
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI work with the Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus and implementing partners in SNNP, Sidama, and SWEP to review woreda populations following district splits.
Action:
The Regional Health Bureaus of SNNP, Sidama, and SWEP updated their populations for the national drug quantification workshop that took place in March 2023. The 2024 Zithromax® applications include the current and best population estimates.
TEC 27
2022
Africa - East
Ethiopia
recommendations for ITI management
27.6.1 - TEC Recommendations to South Sudan's Trachoma Program
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI work with the Republic of South Sudan Ministry of Health and implementing partners to improve population estimates in Unity state.
Action:
ITI has followed up with the South Sudan program and partners. The MOH preference at this time is to use the UN population figures, as these are the highest; however, accurate population estimates remain elusive. ITI will continue to recommend pre-MDA censuses where they can be conducted without delaying the distribution.
TEC 27
2022
Africa - East
South Sudan
recommendations for ITI management
27.7.1 - TEC’s role in advocating for funding for countries
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC notes the urgent need for funding to conduct prevalence surveys and scale up treatments in key areas (e.g., CAR, DRC, etc.) and is concerned that inaction jeopardizes the ability to reach global trachoma elimination.
Action:
PJ continues to discuss with ICTC members and the Executive Group on how best to ensure funders are engaged and aware of urgent gaps. Following discussions, ICTC is recruiting for a new task team to identify MDA and TT surgery funding gaps and then develop a plan of action to support coalition fundraising.
TEC 27
2022
funding, ICTC, end game
27.8.1 - TEC recommendation to ITI management regarding the use of serology and infection data
Conclusion/Recommendation:
In CIV, infection and serological data were available that demonstrated a lack of significant transmission, a meeting was held among the National NTD Program, WHO, CDC and partners and it was decided that MDA could be stopped and a TSS would not be required in those evaluation units. TEC recognizes the opportunity to fast track progress towards dossier in those evaluation units in Côte d’Ivoire, and possibly an opportunity for other countries if infection and serologic criteria for stopping MDA can be established. TEC recommends that ITI offer to WHO to host an informal consultation on the collection and use of serology and infection data in programmatic decision making.
Action:
ITI management has offered to WHO and CDC to host such a meeting if it is desired. In the interim, this item was discussed in detail during TEC 28, GET2020, and will continue to figure prominently on upcoming TEC agendas.
TEC 27
2022
alternative indicators (Ct, serology), recommendations for ITI management, persistence
27.9.1 - Protocol development & OR on modified strategies
Conclusion/Recommendation:
BMGF and USAID would like to provide OR funding to evaluate the implementation of modified treatment strategies, and share learnings to apply in additional areas. TEC acknowledged the potential contribution of funding for operational research on modified strategies in persistent/recrudescent areas, and noted with concern the need for the funding for research to be coordinated with regular programmatic funding for surveys, taking into account the need for both cost efficiencies and timing. TEC recommends that ITI schedule a meeting with BMGF, USAID, and the NTD Support Center to better understand plans and get clarity on the TEC’s proposed role in reviewing proposals for operational research on modified strategies.
Action:
The NTD Support Center will provide an update at TEC 29 on progress towards funding this work. The TEC Research Subcommittee was engaged to review the proposals and provide input on funding decisions.
TEC 27
2022
research, alternative treatment strategies, recommendations for ITI management, funding, persistence
26.1.1 - TEC recommendations to ITI management
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Draft a manuscript for publication on the challenges facing national programs, authored by the 6 countries that presented applications at TEC 26
Action:
This was put on hold; ITI leadership is now questioning its timeliness and relevance.
TEC 26
2022
recommendations for ITI management, research, alternative treatment strategies
26.1.2 - TEC recommendations to ITI management
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Include national program manager participation at future TEC meetings when applications being presented are non-routine and to hear feedback on their implementation of modified strategies
Action:
This is noted for future meetings.
TEC 26
2022
TEC meeting management, alternative treatment strategies
26.1.3 - TEC recommendations to ITI management
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Use bigger font on supply chain slides and break out modified strategies as a separate color on the graphs so the additional drug for modified strategies can be visualized
Action:
This recommendation was implemented at TEC 27.
TEC 26
2022
TEC meeting management
26.1.4 - TEC recommendations to ITI management
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Outline on the maps the districts being requested so that they're easier to find
Action:
ITI is working with its developer to implement this change before TEC 29.
TEC 26
2022
TEC meeting management
26.1.5 - TEC recommendations to ITI management
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Include more time on future agendas for application reviews by adding a day to TEC 27
Action:
This recommendation was implemented at TEC 27.
TEC 26
2022
TEC meeting management