COVID-19, Smoking,
Drinking and the Anti-TB Champion
Theme: Do Not Smoke; Do
Not Drink
We cannot allow smoking
if we also want to live a TB-free life. But, then COVID-19 is threatening the life of those with
immune-compromised conditions and TB as well.
So, we have to take TB prevention personal and
institutional. Stay safe. Be secure.
The communities must
engage in critical prevention activities to significantly reduce instance of
COVID-19 transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
The health facilities
have significantly reduced TB services during the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
The communities must
provide all non-stigmatising opportunities and contexts TB-medication taking as
well as to significantly reduce instances of COVID-19 transmission during the
COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
The
number of people attending health facilities for TB testing and
treatment has decreased significantly during the COVID-19
pandemic/lockdown.
TB medication taking at
a personal level must be rigorous so that it reduces on number of routes to the
clinic for check-ups, reduces vulnerable to drug-resistance or COVID-19
infection during the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
The capacity
to provide TB diagnostic services (e.g. smear microscopy, GeneXpert, culture
and counselling) has decreased significantly during the COVID-19
pandemic/lockdown.
Local communities must
be empowered to take care of people with TB.
Overall the capacity for
health facilities to provide care and follow-up to people with TB has decreased
significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
People
with TB can successfully continue their treatment at home when given TB
medicine to cover more months during the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
Most of the resources
for TB in-patients (e.g. isolation wards, beds) are being repurposed and used
for COVID-19 patients. Also health facilities
have experienced a significant increase in stock-outs and/or delays in the
delivery or pick-up of TB medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown.
It is better to stay
home, follow the MoH guidelines, sanitize, don’t drink and do not smoke so that
you reduce vulnerability to COVID-19. If we don’t many people may be infected
and this will overwhelm the health facilities.
With the likelihood
that COVID-19 pandemic is raging; health
facilities will run out or lack personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g.
masks) to safely care for both TB and COVID-19 patients.
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