EGPAF's decades of experience in epidemic prevention and control as a technical leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS has made the organization uniquely prepared to respond to the pandemic.
More than 30 years ago, we were founded to confront the devastating impact of a pandemic affecting the health and safety of children, youth, and families. Since then, EGPAF has worked on outbreak preparedness and response for several pandemic threats, including HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19. Our work has included:
Technical assistance rooted in health systems strengthening and infectious disease expertise
Healthcare worker administers COVID-19 vaccine at community vaccination event in Lesotho. Photo by Makopano Letsatsi/ EGPAF 2021
Today, we find ourselves on the frontlines of another pandemic. Protecting our clients and staff against COVID-19 has been critical over this last year. All of our programs have adjusted in some way to ensure supported health facilities are prepared and supplied with protective equipment, testing, treatment and, soon, vaccines. We have had to create new ways to deliver health services for HIV, TB, Malaria, maternal and child health and family planning in the midst of COVID-19 preparedness and protection.
Pandemic Response Approaches
1.
Undertaking COVID-19 surveillance activities.
2.
Integrating COVID-19 test and treatment services into existing service delivery entry points.
3.
Quickly developing digital tools and analytic capabilities for rapid decision making.
4.
Providing communities with COVID-19 risk communication messaging, COVID-19 screening, COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination, and COVID-19 treatment.
5.
Expanding virtual learning and telemedicine platforms to enhance infection prevention and control measures at health facilities.
6.
Training laboratory technicians and health workers on safe collection, packaging, and transportation of COVID-19 samples.
7.
Expanding a suite of virtual pediatric and adolescent-focused services to provide virtual care for vulnerable children and adolescents living with HIV.
8.
Adjusting ARV service delivery to ensure children, adolescents, and adults living with HIV do not miss their medications while protecting them from COVID-19.
Developing training for media to raise awareness about the importance of social distancing.
Supported Countries
Recognizing the immediate threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on the communities it serves, EGPAF leveraged its core expertise in health systems strengthening, service delivery and capacity building to begin direct COVID-19 interventions in June 2020.
EGPAF provided direct COVID-19 interventions from screening, testing and surveillance to vaccine roll-out in 12 countries: Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Cameroon
Conducted a pilot study to determine the extent of health service disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and to what extent disruptions may be attributable to IPC-related factors. Learn more
Cote d’Ivoire
Conducted an expanded pilot study to further understand disruptions to essential health service delivery due to COVID. Learn more
Democratic Republic of Congo
Supported the DRC Ministry of Health to roll-out high-quality workshops for training of trainers and step-down trainings on rapid antigen testing. Learn more
Eswatini
Helped improve the COVID-19 vaccination uptake and ensuring efficiencies in both the rollout and implementation. Learn more
Kenya
Conducted a pilot study to determine the extent of health service disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and to what extent disruptions may be attributable to IPC-related factors. Learn more
Lesotho
Supported integrated COVID-19 vaccination into service provision as part of the broader COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the country. Learn more
Malawi
Supported the implementation of Malawi’s national telephonic syndromic surveillance system for COVID-19, as well as activities to improve the national response to COVID-19. Learn more
Mozambique
Supported activities to improve the national response to COVID-19. Learn more
South Africa
Conducted an expanded pilot study to further understand disruptions to essential health service delivery due to COVID. Learn more
Tanzania
Supported infection prevention & control (IPC) activities at facilities. Learn more
Uganda
Conducted an expanded pilot study to further understand disruptions to essential health service delivery due to COVID. Learn more
Zimbabwe
Supported activities to improve the national response to COVID-19. Learn more
Related Resources
Access our full archive of COVID-19 and emerging pandemic publications.
