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CHAI-FIND project to improve COVID-19 diagnostic data systems

Street scene outside the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Delhi.December 2017Photo credit: FIND / Ben Phillips

This training report outlines a project to improve COVID-19 diagnostic data systems, first in Rwanda and later in Ecuador, by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) project and FIND. 

The project had three main workstreams:

  • Developing an analytical system
  • Integrating COVID-19 data systems with other relevant data systems
  • Upgrading and optimizing the COVID-19 data system.


The training report is geared to improve diagnostic data systems and automate approaches that were previously manual. 

The activity aimed to train programme staff and other COVID-19 data users involved in data management in health facilities. 

For those involved in the training, management and analysis of COVID-19 data has improved. The system is capable of inter-operating with other systems, leveraging COVID-19 data more effectively, and handling large amounts of data from multiple sources. 

The Rwanda Ministry of Health, in conjunction with CHAI-FIND and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, has released a step-by-step guide to the training.

Read more here

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Rwanda study shows community health workers support digital tools and RDTs for COVID-19 testing

This Rwanda Biomedical Centre presentation, part of the second International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2022), assessed aspects of SARS-CoV-2 testing in Rwanda.

The study aimed specifically to evaluate how community health workers (CHWs) used antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag RDTs) alongside a clinical screening digital tool (e-ASCOV) at household level to test for COVID-19 at household level.

It selected 800 CHWs across eight districts in Rwanda to participate, asking them how they perceived their role in delivering care, as well as the experience of the clients.

Most participants (83.4%) reported that the e-ASCOV app was easy to use. Most (89.6%) also reported that nasal RDT was easy to administer, and the results easy to read.

Key findings

All the CHWs supported the use of digital tools and RDTs for COVID-19 testing. Most participants (83.4%) reported that the e-ASCOV app was easy to use. Most (89.6%) also reported that nasal RDT was easy to administer, and the results easy to read.

These results highlight that it is possible to implement COVID-19 testing at household-level, to support community-based surveillance for early case detection and management.

The study showed the potential to use similar digital tools for other diseases to support healthcare services delivery closer to the community, and for evidence-based decision making.

It also suggests that the programme needs to be scaled up to train other CHWs and extend the e-ASCov to malaria, TB, and other diseases.

Read more here

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Nairobi’s boda-boda riders take part in COVID-19 study

Health Poverty Action Visiting Hospitals at Kompong Chhnang & Battambong Province

This discussion brief for a FIND and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) dissemination meeting on May 2021 focused on the riders of bicycles and motorcycle taxis, commonly known as boda bodas, in Nairobi, Kenya.

The operational research study used digital solutions, in conjunction with Ag-RDTs, to support decentralized COVID-19 and TB testing and linkage to healthcare of the subjects. 

It aimed to:

  • Create demand for testing among boda-boda riders.
  • Identify potential cases of COVID-19 and TB using a digital screening tool and link them to testing and care.
  • Measure COVID-19 and TB positivity rates among boda-boda riders.
  • Evaluate the performance of the Ag-RDT against RT-PCR.
  • Assess the effectiveness of the digital tool for comprehensive data capture.

The study was implemented jointly by JKUAT and MoH, in four counties: Machakos, Kiambu, Nairobi and Kajiado. 

The Boda-Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) played an indispensable role in demand creation, and digital messaging was also used for sensitization. 

A total of 5,663 boda-boda riders enrolled in the study, all of whom received a general medical check that included measuring blood pressure and blood sugar.

There was high demand for community-based testing services not only among riders, but also from passers-by.

Following digital screening for COVID-19 and TB symptoms, 4,946 participants were selected for COVID-19 testing, with 372 of these also tested for TB .

Significant findings

Notable findings include:

  • A high prevalence of non-communicable diseases, and a relatively low national health insurance coverage, with 42% of riders having elevated blood pressure, and 48% abnormal blood sugar.
  • An overall COVID-19 positivity rate of 1% was found among those tested with Ag-RDTs. Of the participants who also received a PCR test, the overall positivity rate was 5%. There were differences between the four counties.
  • Of those tested for TB, no cases of COVID-19 and TB co-infections were found. However, more than half the participants reported respiratory symptoms.

What are the recommendations?

  • There is strong interest in, and uptake of, diagnostic services at community level, which could be leveraged to expand access to testing.
  • Integration of COVID-19 screening with screening for other respiratory diseases, such as TB, can optimize the value of community-based testing.
  • Boda-boda riders should be a priority group for health interventions.
  • Digital solutions can enhance delivery of decentralized diagnosis.

Read full report here

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WHO webinar on genomic surveillance and SARS-CoV-2 sequencing capacity

In this webinar, WHO and FIND co-host a discussion on sequencing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 and global initiatives to strengthen genomic surveillance.

Co-chaired by Natacha Milhano, WHO Public Health Laboratory Strengthening Unit, and Dr Dhamari Naidoo, WHO South-East Asia, it featured the following speakers and topics:

  • Dr Lisa Carter: Genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential
  • Dr Anita Suresh: Mapping and building genomic surveillance capacity for COVID-19 and beyond
  • Dr Senjuti Saha: Towards building capacity and accelerating genomic surveillance: one step at a time 
  • Dr Sikhulile Moyo: Pathogen genomics of SARS-CoV-2: Lessons from Botswana.

Participants shared learnings from the experiences of Botswana (Moyo) and Bangladesh (Saha) on building next generation sequencing capacity, and the global strategy launched by WHO on 31 March 2022 (Carter).

The presentation on 20 April 2022 was in English, with simultaneous interpretations in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Watch the webinar on YouTube

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Enhancing response to Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant

WHO released this technical brief and guide to prioritize actions for member states in January 2022.

It aims to enhance response to the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant, designated by WHO as a variant of concern on 26 November 2021. Based on the information available, the overall risk related to Omicron was identified as being very high.

The brief is divided into three main sections:

  • An executive summary of key current technical information
  • Current evidence on Omicron
  • Priority actions for member states.

Previous versions of this technical brief are available on this link.

Read the full WHO brief here

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FIND partners with CSIR-IGIB to strengthen SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in India

FIND has partnered with CSIR-IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology) to help India fight COVID-19 by boosting sequencing capacity across the country. 

The partnership aims to decentralize genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 by setting up “MicroLabs”. These will enable sequencing, analysis and interpretation of sequencing data with minimal turnaround time and infrastructure limited settings.

The goal is to optimize and scale the capacity needed to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) and variants of interest (VOI).

The partnership will also  identify genomic hotspots and mutations associated with disease severity that are critical for surveillance and public health action.

Read the report here

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R&D blueprint expands for COVID-19 epidemic and beyond

The R&D Blueprint is a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics. 

It aims to fast-track the availability of effective tests, vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crises. 

With WHO as convener, WHO Member States welcomed the development of the Blueprint at the World Health Assembly in May 2016.

As part of WHO’s response to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the R&D Blueprint was activated during COVID-19 to accelerate diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics for the novel virus. 

This aims to improve coordination between scientists and global health professionals, accelerate the research and development process, and develop new norms and standards to inform the global response.

Building on the response to recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the R&D Blueprint has facilitated a coordinated and accelerated response to COVID-19.

In 202, WHO published the final version of Target Product Profiles (TPP) for priority COVID-19 diagnostics. These TPPs describe the desirable and minimally acceptable profiles for four tests.

  • Read more on the R&D Blueprint here
  • Read more on COVID-19 Blueprint  here
  • Read more on TPP here
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Collaborations lead to apps, toolkits to collect COVID-19 RDT data

Collaboration between organizations is essential to quickly design and develop human-centred health tools to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The list below is a collection of various applications and toolkits developed in this way to capture COVID-19 related data.

  1. The COVID-19 Template App, designed by FIND and Dimagi, supports health workers as they administer and record the results of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The application features workflows for patient registration, test initiation, and result capture. 
  1. The RDToolkit: Currently Supported RDTs is a listing of the RDTs that the Rapid Diagnostics Tookit hosts.
  1. FIND and HISP India collaborated to develop a DHIS2-based package for capturing data for RDTs. The resultant COVID-19 RDT Data Capture programme metadata package is available for download.
  1. As part of the ACT-Accelerator, Argusoft added a novel digital health solution to enable RDT capture with FIND. This COVID-19 RDT Data Capture is a MEDplat extension.
  1. ODK partnered with FIND to create a ready-to-use form to help community health workers in collecting data when performing RDTs. Read more on the COVID-19 Antigen RDT form for standards-compliant data.
  1. Medic’s CHT App with COVID-19 RDT Workflows is a community health toolkit to enhance RDT workflows. It also was developed in partnership with FIND. The app is powered by the Community Health Toolkit (CHT).
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Model to improve COVID-19 diagnostic data collection

FIND and PATH have been working together to support the development and implementation of digital tools for the global COVID-19 response.

With more than 400 COVID-19-based digital health tools available, countries need to determine the most appropriate ones for their needs, and how to use them. 

The Digital Square initiative within PATH’s Centre of Digital Excellence has convened a network of global collaborators to streamline a more effective approach to using these tools.

Its goal is to improve COVID-19 diagnostic data and use, which will increase the ability to share and view rapid diagnostic testing data.

To this end, FIND and PATH created a template of data fields relevant to the COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test workflow, called the ACT-A COVID-19 Antigen RDT Data Model.

Aimed at supporting low- and middle-income countries, the common data model is freely available to download.

Read more here

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Assessing COVID-19 digital tools in Kenya

This case study of Machakos and Mombasa counties in Kenya was conducted by the Ministry of Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and FIND in 2021.

It mapped the use of digital tools to strengthen COVID-19 screening, testing, contact tracing and case management.

It makes findings on:

  • Management of COVID-19 in Machakos and Mombasa
  • COVID-19 management cascade
  • Use of digital tools
  • Primary and secondary outcomes
  • Epidemiological outcomes.

Key challenges are presented, and recommendations made on:

  • Screening process
  • Testing
  • Contact tracing
  • Management.

It also provides general recommendations to improve the use of digital tools for COVID-19 management in Kenya.

Read full report here