Conclusions & Recommendations
10.3.1 - Malawi 5-9%
Conclusion/Recommendation:
The TEC recommends the donation for a single MDA to the whole population of districts with baseline TF 5-9% as non-precedent setting and re-evaluate whether a change of policy is indicated, based on the results of the six-month follow-up by the Malawi program.
Action:
- Approval of these districts has been communicated to Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH) and partners, who are planning accordingly.
- ITI and NTD-SC are collaborating to provide technical assistance to Malawi MOH on coverage surveys; achieving high coverage is important to ensure the desired impact.
TEC 10
2014
Africa - Central/Southern
Malawi
Zithromax® donation criteria
10.4.1 - Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) and Refugees
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC request WHO and ITI to convene a technical working group to:
a. Review the extent of the problem of IDPs and refugees.
b. Propose potential partners to support distribution in displaced persons’ camps.
c. Prepare guidelines to assist countries in their application process and program delivery in order to achieve 2020 goal.
Action:
This item will be discussed at the ITI Advisory Committee Meeting to be held on November 20th, 2014.
TEC 10
2014
recommendations for ITI management, special populations, Zithromax® donation criteria
10.5.1 - Surgery Requests
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI should:
a. Continue to provide Zithromax® for surgery.
b. Work with program managers to devise systems to supply all surgeons with Zithromax® for post-operative treatment in a secure way.
Action:
Currently, ITI is shipping Zithromax® for surgery where requested. The new ITI Deputy Director will work with program managers to devise secure Zithromax® supply systems for surgery.
TEC 10
2014
trichiasis, Zithromax® donation criteria
10.6.1 - Compilation of Lessons Learned
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC requested ITI to commission:
a. A review of the lessons learned by the national programs in Ethiopia-Amhara, Tanzania and Mali.
b. A compilation of operational research questions that need to be addressed.
Action:
This item will be discussed on the first day of the TEC 11 meeting and at the ITI Advisory Committee Meeting on November 20th, 2014. Later this year, ITI will submit a formal paper resulting from this discussion.
TEC 10
2014
research
10.7.1 - Cross-border Issues
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC requests ITI to work with the national programs to harmonize and coordinate with neighboring countries regarding cross-border migration, with regard to:
a. Future requests and MDA planning.
b. Evaluation of program impact.
Action:
- ITI will convene an East Africa program review in 2015, hosted by the ITI-Regional Office in Addis Ababa, which will specifically address cross-border issues. National trachoma program representatives from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be invited to participate.
- ITI-HQ program staff will encourage individual National Program Coordinators to address cross-border issues in MDA planning and evaluation of impact on the program.
- Regional maps showing the location of cross-border issues to demonstrate where issues may exist will be included for discussion during the TEC 12 meeting (June 2015).
TEC 10
2014
cross-border, special populations
10.8.1 - General Recommendation
Conclusion/Recommendation:
The TEC recommends that it would be helpful for a technical group of experts to convene and evaluate the current WHO recommendations regarding 80% coverage and three annual treatments, given the expanding database on impact surveys post-Zithromax® treatment and rates of TF, Ct PCR positivity and operational factors, so that future clinical and operational research questions can be addressed.
Action:
Tom Lietman and Travis Porco at UCSF will address this recommendation in their proposed investigation of community treatment strategies for trachoma elimination.
TEC 10
2014
alternative indicators (Ct, serology), alternative treatment strategies, research
10.9.1 - Yaws
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC accepts the ITI position paper on yaws and requests ITI to bring the issue of a potential Zithromax® donation for yaws eradication back for consideration as it develops.
Action:
ITI and the Task Force for Global Health hosted the Yaws Strategy Development Meeting on October 27-28, 2014 to develop a strategy for yaws eradication, considering mass drug administration with azithromycin.
TEC 10
2014
Zithromax® donation criteria