Tag: Global Fund

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ACT-Accelerator Transition Report

The Transition Report includes a summary of achievements against each transition objective, related monitoring and coordination activities (e.g., supported by the ACT-A Tracking and Monitoring Task Force), and a Pillar-by-Pillar update on implementation progress. It reflects inputs from across the ACT-A partners as well as from recent reports and meetings, including the 3rd meeting convened by the ACT-A Council Tracking and Monitoring Task Force on 31 March 2023. 

Reflections on the way forward are provided in the final section of the report, with quarterly information (for Q4 2022 and Q1 2023) included as annexes. It also provides insights into how ACT-A partners have mainstreamed their COVID-19 work and will carry forward ongoing activities as part of their regular programmes and support.

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Related Resources Resource Centre - Reports

Third Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Tracking & Monitoring Taskforce Outcome Statement Report – 31 March 2023

This report is an outcome of the third meeting of the ACT-Accelerator Tracking and Monitoring Taskforce, held on 31st March 2023. This taskforce – co-chaired by India and the United States – continues key elements of the work of the Facilitation Council and its working groups. The report includes an outcome statement by the Co-Chairs and provides a briefing on the current status of the rollout of COVID-19 tools, including the institutional arrangements being put in place by ACT-A agencies to ensure ongoing access to COVID-19 tools.  More information on the taskforce can be found here.

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Update on the rollout of COVID-19 tools: a report from the ACT-A Tracking & Monitoring Task Force – 15 February 2023

This report is an outcome of the second meeting of the ACT-Accelerator Tracking and Monitoring Taskforce, held on 15th February 2023. This taskforce – co-chaired by India and the United States – continues key elements of the work of the Facilitation Council and its working groups. The report includes an outcome statement by the Co-Chairs and provides a briefing on the current status of the rollout of COVID-19 tools, including the institutional arrangements being put in place by ACT-A agencies to ensure ongoing access to COVID-19 tools.  More information on the taskforce can be found here.

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Add Resources - Scaling Up & Sustainability

Current testing tools uncompromised by new COVID-19 variant of concern Omicron (B.1.1.529)

Available diagnostics do pick up Omicron infections

In November 2021 a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified. 

The World Health Organization declared it a variant of concern, especially as it is more transmissible than the variants that preceded it. 

There were initial concerns that Omicron would also evade testing, as some PCR tests did not pick up the virus because it had a deletion in one of its genes. 

However, the other PCR gene targets were still identified. 

At the time FIND conducted a rapid assessment of available evidence and also confirmed that rapid antigen tests would still pick up an Omicron infection. 

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COVID-19 Response in Ethiopia

Ethiopia recorded 372 000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and around 6800 deaths in the first two years of the pandemic. 

Since March 2022, when the first case was recorded, health facilities diverted all available resources to preventing and treating COVID-19, and this negatively impacted on maternal, newborn, and child health, non-communicable diseases, surgery, and HIV, TB, and malaria. 

Many health facilities closed down completely.

Disruptions in the supply chain system led to a stock-out of essential drugs and a shortage of medical equipment.

The Global Fund supported Ethiopia with US$111.1-million to fight COVID-19, focusing on strengthening the community health system, which is a well-integrated programme in the country. 

Plans are to further assist with surveillance programmes, strengthen laboratory systems, COVID-19 case finding, contact tracing, case management, and home-based isolation and care. 

Further investments also targeted infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and protecting vulnerable populations.

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COVID-19 Response in Peru

Health Poverty Action Visiting Hospitals at Kompong Chhnang & Battambong Province

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on Peru’s health system and economy.

It is one of the countries with the highest numbers of pandemic-linked excess deaths in the world. 

HIV and TB services were severely disrupted. 

The Global Fund supported Peru with US$14.9-million to fight COVID-19, including support for the procurement of diagnostic tests, personal protective equipment (PPE), and scaling up oxygen support for COVID-19 patients. 

A part of this investment was used to get TB and HIV programmes back on track. This intervention includes the purchase of mobile units (vans) and campaigns to find people with TB, support for patients with multidrug-resistant TB, and the use of a mobile app to help patients with MDR-TB to adhere to their treatment regime. 

Strong community engagement forms an integral part of the programme. This includes community-based disease monitoring and efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination.

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COVID-19 Response in the Philippines

Health Poverty Action Visiting Hospitals at Kompong Chhnang & Battambong Province

The Philippines has been severely affected by COVID-19, with more than 3 million confirmed cases and around 52 700 deaths by 2022.

Lockdown measures and community quarantines were introduced in March 2022. 

The impact of the pandemic was particularly visible in the TB and HIV programs in the Philippines, with testing numbers dropping across the board. 

In 2021, COVID-19 cases surged again as the Delta variant spread.

The Global Fund supported the Philippines with US$37.7-million to fight COVID-19 in grants for the expansion of testing capacity and support to develop a case management strategy.

Further interventions focused on mitigating the impact of the pandemic on HIV, TB, and malaria programmes.

The Philippines was one of the first countries to develop a strong, comprehensive TB adaptive plan for the impact of COVID-19.

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COVID-19 Response in Thailand

Health Poverty Action Visiting Hospitals at Kompong Chhnang & Battambong Province

Thailand was the first country outside China to report a COVID-19 case. 

Containment measures, like lockdowns and travel restrictions,  were implemented as early as March 2020. This was initially successful, but devastated the foreign tourism sector, which accounts for around 20% of Thailand’s GDP.

This early success, keeping COVID-19 case numbers low, could not be sustained. 

By the latter part of 2021, the Delta variant became the dominant global strain of SARS-CoV-2, and the health system was overwhelmed by the surge in cases.

The Global Fund assisted Thailand with the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 diagnostic tests. 

A strong focus on local key populations guided the implementation of interventions with the help of broader civil society. 

This inclusive approach allowed for the implementation of tailored measures that were sensitive to the needs of diverse communities.

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The Global Fund Achieves Significant Price Reductions for Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests (Ag RDTs)

A new agreement reached by the Global Fund and several producers of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag RDTs) has resulted in a significant drop in the price of these tests, potentially making the products more affordable for many governments of low- and middle-income countries.
This announcement from the Global Fund, co-convenors of the ACT-A Diagnostics Pillar alongside FIND, ensures that the COVID-19 diagnostics produced by these quality-assured suppliers will be available at game-changing prices ranging from US$1.00 to US$2.00 per test or less. These developments have the potential to shift the diagnostics market and make testing more accessible.

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Information Note for CSOs on COVID-19 Testing 

Health Poverty Action Visiting Hospitals at Kompong Chhnang & Battambong Province

As vaccines are rolled out globally, testing remains a critical way to manage and monitor COVID-19 outbreaks. Without testing, we cannot track or contain the spread of the virus, address urgent clinical needs, refer patients for treatment, test the efficacy of vaccination, and detect the emergence of new variants. 

A combination of different types of tests are needed to facilitate patient management and public health planning for effective control of COVID-19. The Global Fund encourages countries to include all appropriate types of tests when developing their COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19 RM) funding proposals. 

This information note provides a breakdown of the different types of COVID-19 tests available at the time.