Maintaining robust HIV and tuberculosis services in the COVID-19 era: A public health dilemma in Zimbabwe

Solomon Mukwenha; Tafadzwa Dzinamarira; Owen Mugurungi; Godfrey Musuka

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1425

Maintaining robust HIV and tuberculosis services in the COVID-19 era: A public health dilemma in Zimbabwe

Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Nov:100:394-395. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1425. Epub 2020 Sep 24.

Authors

Solomon Mukwenha¹, Tafadzwa Dzinamarira², Owen Mugurungi³, Godfrey Musuka⁴

Affiliations

¹ ICAP, Columbia University, Harare, Zimbabwe.
² Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
³ AIDS and TB Programme, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
⁴ ICAP, Columbia University, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: gm2660@cumc.columbia.edu.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged health systems worldwide. In Zimbabwe, the COVID-19 response has seen the diversion of human capital, equipment, and other resources that were meant for the HIV and tuberculosis (TB) programmes. In a country with one of the worst HIV and TB burdens globally, the authors discuss this public health dilemma of sustained HIV and TB services in the context of a new threat - COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; HIV; Pandemic; Tuberculosis; Zimbabwe.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
HIV Infections / diagnosis
HIV Infections / therapy*
Health Services
Humans
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Public Health*
SARS-CoV-2
Tuberculosis / diagnosis
Tuberculosis / therapy*
Zimbabwe