Hello from Friends! Here is a quick look at what's new in our work to fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria in the age of COVID-19.
Roll Out of Rapid Testing Could be a 'Game Changer' in Africa
  • "African nations are planning to ramp up the use of rapid diagnostic tests as part of their national strategies for testing for COVID-19," reports Devex.

  • The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is poised to guarantee procurement and distribution of tests as part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, but additional funding for it is needed for testing to be scaled to necessary levels.

  • IMF: Sub-Saharan Africa's Difficult Road to Recovery

  • Johns Hopkins: Study Identifies Dire Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Africa
Tune In: #FriendsHealthChat Webinar with Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim
  • Join our webinar with renowned HIV researcher Quarraisha Abdool Karim on the importance of focusing on women in the battle against COVID-19 and HIV.

  • Read our new issue brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescent Girls and Young Women and Needed Responses

  • Webinar Replay: Watch "Innovation in the Time of COVID-19: Developing and Scaling New Tools"
Global TB Report Shows Drop in TB Case Notification Due to COVID-19
Highlights from the 2020 Global TB Report:
  • 4,000 people die from TB every day. Global TB incidence is falling, but not fast enough.

  • In 2019, 7.1 million people with TB were newly diagnosed and notified, but an additional 2.9 million people went undiagnosed.

  • Only 50% of TB funding targets were reached, falling short of what is needed.

  • Data collected from over 200 countries has shown significant reductions in TB case notifications due to COVID-19. Those are cases going undiagnosed and untreated.
How COVID-19 is Affecting the Global Response to AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
  • AIDS: 430,000 People Died from AIDS Due to COVID-19 Lockdown, Says NACA (This Day)

  • Malaria: Why COVID-19 Disruption In Malaria Treatment Poses Grave Risk To Pregnant Women In Nigeria (New Diplomat)


We're tracking the intersection of COVID-19 and AIDS, TB and malaria. See regular updates on our website.
Global Health News
  • Preventive Drugs Halve Malaria Infections in African School Children, Major Study Finds (The Telegraph)

  • Coronavirus Pandemic Worsens Hunger, Malnutrition in Parts of Africa (VOA News)

  • Resumed Immunization Campaigns Are Critical to Preventing COVID-19 as Well as Polio (Protecting Global Gains)
  • Amref Health Africa, AVAC and Friends have formed Protecting Global Gains to document innovative solutions as global health programs face COVID-19.
Be sure to check www.theglobalfight.org for the latest. Thanks for your support.
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