Advertisement

Catholic Health Association in South Sudan Avails COVID-19 Guidelines for TB Patients

A poster for a campaign against tuberculosis organized by the Arkangelo Ali Association (AAA) in South Sudan.

Arkangelo Ali Association (AAA) in South Sudan, an organization which runs Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy control programs in the Diocese of Rumbek has made available COVID-19 guidelines that were specifically developed for TB patients in view of managing the condition in five of the ten states of the country.

The management of the association highlighted on Friday, August 21 what needs to be done when implementing TB services in the midst of this COVID-19 across 21 counties of the total 79 counties of the East-Central African country.

“With the emergency of the novel coronavirus pandemic in South Sudan which has affected all the states that AAA operates in, the AAA management decided to come up with some basic guidelines,” South Sudan’s AAA leadership says in guidelines published on the association’s website.

Apart from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) rules of social distancing, handwashing with soap and water and use of facemasks, the leadership of AAA attempts to reduce the risks of COVID-19 to the people with TB by limiting visits of TB units “to those that are essential such as drug fill and sputum follow-up examinations.”

The management of AAA directed their patients to avoid hospital visits as much as possible and keep in touch with their health providers by phone.

Advertisement

The Catholic program for the control of TB has also adopted virtual means of communication to ensure affected people and all stakeholders maintain communication without physical contact.

“Secure multiple months of TB medicines are made available at the homes of people on TB treatment,” AAA leadership says.

In their 3-page document, AAA leadership notes that TB care providers are well briefed and use essential personal protection equipment (PPEs).

With regard to the TB activities around health education, capacity building, meetings, outreaches and home visits, AAA leadership has decided to “deal with small groups at a time.”