Conclusions & Recommendations
24.6.3 - Sudan
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC encourages partners to work with the MOH to identify what will be needed to prepare the program’s elimination dossier.
Action:
This recommendation has been shared with the MOH and partners.
TEC 24
2021
Eastern Mediterranean
Sudan
end game
24.7.1 - Ethiopia
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC noted with sadness the loss of Dr. Tebebe Yemane Berhan, a tireless advocate for the trachoma program in Ethiopia.
Action:
Condolences have been shared with the MOH and TCC.
TEC 24
2021
Africa - East
Ethiopia
24.7.2 - Ethiopia
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Amhara: TEC recommends that ITI work with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Regional Health Bureau (RHB), and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) study team to quantify the Zithromax® needs for the KETFO trial.
Action:
Zithromax® required for the KETFO study is included as a separate line in the 2023 Application.
TEC 24
2021
Africa - East
Ethiopia
research
24.7.3 - Ethiopia
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Beneshangul Gumuz (BG): TEC recommends that ITI work with the FMOH and the RHB to better understand the current situation in the Bambasi and Tongo camps, including the refugees’ origin and the type of camp (open vs. closed). This information may be submitted to the TEC refugee subcommittee and the algorithm applied to determine whether any further action is needed.
Action:
ITI-Ethiopia worked with the BG RHB to better understand the situation in the refugee camps and has determined the origin and type of camp. The details will be submitted to the refugee subcommittee to determine eligibility.
TEC 24
2021
Africa - East
Ethiopia
special populations
24.7.4 - Ethiopia
Conclusion/Recommendation:
Oromia: TEC recommends that ITI work with the Federal Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureau, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine study team to quantify the Zithromax® needs for the Stronger SAFE trial.
Action:
The research request has been incorporated in the 2023 Zithromax® Application.
TEC 24
2021
Africa - East
Ethiopia
research, recommendations for ITI management
24.7.5 - Ethiopia
Conclusion/Recommendation:
SNNP: TEC noted with concern that some historic MDAs may not have occurred as reported. TEC recommends that ITI follow up with the RHB, Sightsavers, and other partners to better understand these reports and take appropriate action.
Action:
ITI-Ethiopia followed up with Orbis to determine whether any past distributions have been incorrectly reported. It was reported by the implementing partner and the RHB that the data already in the database are accurate for those areas.
TEC 24
2021
Africa - East
Ethiopia
recommendations for ITI management
24.8.1 - Tanzania
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recognizes that TIS and TSS data in several districts are coming back above threshold more often than expected, which may point to ‘persistence’, may indicate lagging TF, or may be the result of population migration. TEC recommends that ITI work with Tropical Data to discuss appropriate methodologies for trachoma surveys among nomadic populations, consider assessing infection, and/or consider pursuing operational research on more-frequent-than-annual MDA with intensified surveillance to address this.
Action:
This recommendation was shared with the program in September 2021 and a follow-up email was sent to Tropical Data (TD) regarding survey development. This was also discussed during the WHO Informal Consultation meeting in December 2021. This issue is being addressed by the country and implementing partners, who have conducted a deep dive to determine the factors around program implementation or epidemiology driving this observation. The findings of the deep dive will be presented at TEC 27.
TEC 24
2021
Africa - East
Tanzania
persistence, research, recommendations for ITI management, alternative treatment strategies, special populations
24.9.1 - Overview of progress to date in the Americas region
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI pursue discussions with PAHO to explore utilizing the Task Force for Global Health MOU with PAHO as an alternative mechanism for Zithromax® shipments to countries in the region.
Action:
ITI and PAHO are currently in the process of drafting an agreement to facilitate this as of May 2022. This will be presented at TEC 27.
TEC 24
2021
Americas
supply chain, recommendations for ITI management
23.1.1 - National programs’ COVID-19 prevention
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC congratulates the national programs that presented at TEC 23 (Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ethiopia) and their partners for their rapid and comprehensive COVID-19 risk prevention during trachoma program activities. TEC encourages other countries to implement stringent COVID-19 risk prevention in their trachoma elimination efforts.
Action:
TEC 23
2021
Nigeria,Côte d'Ivoire,Ethiopia
COVID
23.1.2 - National programs’ COVID-19 prevention
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC congratulates countries that have covered the increased activity costs (to purchase personal protective equipment and increases in per diem, lodging, and fuel costs) through domestic financing. TEC notes that securing domestic financing for this and other program activities is in line with guidance in the new WHO NTD Roadmap.
Action:
No action required
TEC 23
2021
funding, COVID