CELG - Africa Coalition On Tuberculosis

COVID19 impact varied across different population groups and underscored the criticality of integrating health equity, human rights and gender equality into HTM programs.
COVID19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Surveys (2021 and 2022) showed lack of engagement of Last Mile Population/Key and Vulnerable Populations in the C19RM response, who experience increased vulnerabilities and risk.
The leadership and engagement of communities living with and most affected by diseases has been central to the Global Fund since its foundation and is reflected across the Global Fund’s model.

To identify and document engagement approaches and strategies that enable TB KVPs to influence national TB and pandemic decisions:
Access to technical, and financial support
Build the capacity of KVP on TB and COVID19
Embed lessons from COVID19 into national TB and pandemic responses

Factors that increased vulnerabilities highlighted in the assessments include

These vulnerabilities become limiting factors in the capacity for KVP to mobilise and engage.
There exist scarcity of existing data on TB prevalence or even general health risks among TB KVP as priority target community in public health care planning.
High levels of stigma and discrimination act as barrier to engagement in decision making

Inclusive decision making processes;
Build capacity for both the LMPs and the local structures;
Access to information, tools and resources that increase awareness on TB and PPR;
Improved coordination and partnership structures to facilitate engagement; and
Data gathering on the broader community priorities to inform decision making.

The CE plan activities centred around the following:

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