Project Title: Pilot deployment of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic self-testing in selected communities in Tanzania
Project Description: The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and partners are collaborating with Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) to implement operational research programs to improve COVID-19 testing in Tanzania. The program titled COVITEST in Tanzania will initiate the MOH effort by introducing AgRDT in selected regional level hospitals in the zonal areas of the country. The work will allow experience to be gained on efficient ways to deploy and scale up... The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and partners are collaborating with Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) to implement operational research programs to improve COVID-19 testing in Tanzania. The program titled COVITEST in Tanzania will initiate the MOH effort by introducing AgRDT in selected regional level hospitals in the zonal areas of the country. The work will allow experience to be gained on efficient ways to deploy and scale up the AgRDT testing in formal health system in Tanzania. This particular project will introduce contact tracing at community level as well as assess the feasibility of the participation of lower level health facilities (dispensaries) and community health care workers as a mechanism to facilitate early and broader identification of COVID-19 cases, hence the deployment of effective interventions and control of the pandemic. This proposed operational research program will also further extend the deployment of the AgRDT by using peer to peer educators at workplaces and promotion of self-testing in the communities.
Principal Investigator : Salim Abdulla
Department Name :
Time frame: (2022-02-01) - (2022-12-30)
The University of Birmingham (Normal)
External Collaborating Partners
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