GAPS IN COVID-19 THIRD WAVE PREPAREDNESS REVEALED

MBABANE - While government has affirmed that it is on high alert for the projected COVID-19 third wave, there are, however, significant gaps in terms of preparedness.

The gaps are contained in a ministerial report tabled by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi at Senate last week. Minister Nkosi prepared the report following a motion that was moved by senators who called for her to submit an extensive report detailing the measures that the ministry had put in place, or will put in place, to avert or minimise the adverse effects of the projected third wave. The gaps are highlighted under the topic ‘Current situation and third wave preparation’. Under the topic of detecting and testing of suspected cases, a crucial exercise mentioned was the daily screening in schools where the ongoing activity was said to be compliance monitoring by the schools health teams. The gap noted was that there was no clear monitoring structure at the Ministry of Education and Training.

Variants

The minister also listed the exercise of detecting of new variants of concern through genomic sequencing samples sent to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) every month. She said the ongoing activity was the establishment of local genomic sequencing through procurement of the reagents. The gap noted was that there was lack of reagents for genomic sequencing for COVID-19. On the part of investigating and tracing contacts, while the minister stated that 64 registered respiratory therapists (RRT) members were doing the task at hand and 20 additional ones were to be hired, a gap was noted in that support by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for vehicles for surge staff had expired.

The minister mentioned in the report that the ministry was still to confirm funding from the World Bank and the amount. In terms of reducing COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality, the ministry outlined the current situation in terms of quarantine and support contacts. “Contacts who test negative are being advised to self-quarantine and visitors are advised to do so at a hotel of choice,” it was stated in the report. The gap noted in the report was the issue of personal funding for the hotels and lodges. Another critical aspect contained in the report was that of early diagnosis and care. It was stated that testing sites also provided initiation of treatment and early diagnosis of breathing problems. It was also mentioned that additional clinics were being prepared for testing and treatment initiation.

However, a serious gap was noted in that there were weak systems for ensuring quick reporting of negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results. The minister also mentioned a positive in the form of a reduced turn-around time for results through deployment of RDTs to primary care facilities.

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