02813nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001300054653003400067653003400101653002500135100001200160700001900172700001600191700001800207700001300225700001500238700001800253700001300271700001600284700001400300700001300314700001300327700001100340700001500351245018700366856009900553300000900652490000700661520178100668022001402449       2023                            d  c06/202310aCovid-1910aCOVID-19-related interruption10aMDA, Mass Drug Administration10aimplementation delay1 aItaye T1 aMatendechero S1 aMbonigaba J1 aGebretsadik F1 aMolefi T1 aBaayenda G1 aRuberanziza E1 aKollie K1 aZilabumba J1 aDembele M1 aDeribe K1 aAdrien E1 aPolo M1 aPractice K00a"Our interventions are still here to support communities during the pandemic": Resuming mass drug administration for neglected tropical diseases after COVID-19 implementation delays.  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011368&type=printable  a1-140 v173 a<p>The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services, including those provided by national neglected tropical disease (NTD) programs. Most mass drug administration (MDA) programs were postponed for 6-12 months following World Health Organization guidance released in April 2020 to temporarily halt NTD programs and launch necessary COVID-19 precautions. While NTD-endemic countries have since resumed MDA activities, it is critical to understand implementers' perspectives on the key challenges and opportunities for program relaunch, as these insights are critical for maximizing gains towards disease control and elimination during public health emergencies. Using data from using online surveys and focus group discussions, this mixed-methods study sought perspectives from Ministry of Health NTD Program Managers and implementing partners from non-governmental organizations working in sub-Saharan Africa. Data analysis revealed that findings converged around several main themes: disruptions for MDA programs included resource shortages due to prioritization of pandemic response, challenges adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols, and community hesitancy due to coronavirus transmission fears. Identified solutions for restarting MDA programs focused on adapting intervention delivery and packaging to minimize disease transmission, embracing technology to optimize intervention planning and delivery, and identifying opportunities to promote program integration between pandemic response strategies and NTD campaign delivery. Findings identifies key challenges due to disruptions to NTD program delivery and provide strategic recommendations for endemic countries to build resilient programs that can continue to perform during and beyond global pandemics.</p>
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