Service interruptions for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB), and malaria were among the pandemic’s effects on health care workers and patients.
According to a study on the lived experiences and consequences of COVID-19 on HIV, TB, and malaria service delivery among health care providers, one crucial finding was that health care workers were given COVID-19 response-related tasks, which exacerbated staff shortages and led to burnout from long workdays that interfered with patients with the world’s deadliest infections receiving the best care possible.
The survey which was conducted in Kenya by the Ministry of Health and her partners it was undertaken in the counties of Nairobi, Busia, Mombasa, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, and Siaya.
The study revealed that the pandemic made it more difficult to get personal protective equipment, diagnostics, and medications, which had an impact on how HIV, TB, and malaria care was provided and used.
“Strengthen community health infrastructure, improve psychosocial support for service providers and patients throughout the pandemic, and plan ahead for future pandemics. centralize pandemic information management,” stated the study.
According to the study’s findings and recommendations for future planning, strengthening community, health structures for disease surveillance and awareness is crucial for the unpredictable future.
The pandemic created a perfect storm of economic, health and social crises and threatens to reverse the extraordinary gains made by the Global Fund partnership in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.