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BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) among young people is an effective approach to enhance the uptake of HIV testing recommended by the World Health Organization. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted conventional facility-based HIV testing services, necessitating the exploration of innovative strategies for the effective delivery of HIVST. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the outcomes of a digital World AIDS Day crowdsourcing open call, designed to elicit youth responses on innovative approaches to promote HIVST among young people (14-24 years) in Nigeria during COVID-19 restrictions. METHODS: From November 2 to 22, 2020, a World AIDS Day 2020 crowdsourcing open call was held digitally due to COVID-19 restrictions. The crowdsourcing open call followed World Health Organization standardized steps, providing a structured framework for participant engagement. Young people in Nigeria, aged 10-24 years, participated by submitting ideas digitally through Google Forms or email in response to this crowdsourcing open call prompt: "How will you promote HIV self-testing among young people during COVID-19 pandemic?" Data and responses from each submission were analyzed, and proposed ideas were closely examined to identify common themes. Four independent reviewers (AE, SM, AZM, and TG) judged each submission based on the desirability, feasibility, and impact on a 9-point scale (3-9, with 3 being the lowest and 9 being the highest). RESULTS: The crowdsourcing open call received 125 eligible entries, 44 from women and 65 from men. The median age of participants was 20 (IQR 24-20) years, with the majority having completed their highest level of education at the senior secondary school level. The majority of participants lived in the South-West region (n=61) and Lagos state (n=36). Of the 125 eligible entries, the top 20 submissions received an average total score of 7.5 (SD 2.73) or above. The panel of judges ultimately selected 3 finalists to receive a monetary award. Three prominent themes were identified from the 125 crowdsourcing open call submissions as specific ways that HIVST can adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) digital approaches (such as gamification, photoverification system, and digital media) to generate demand for HIVST and avoid risks associated with attending clinics, (2) awareness and sensitization through existing infrastructures (such as churches, schools, and health facilities), and (3) partnerships with influencers, role models, and leaders (such as religious and youth leaders and social influencers in businesses, churches, organizations, and schools) to build trust in HIVST services. CONCLUSIONS: The crowdsourcing open call effectively engaged a diverse number of young people who proposed a variety of ways to improve the uptake of HIVST during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings contribute to the need for innovative HIVST strategies that close critical knowledge and practice gaps on ways to reach young people with HIVST during and beyond the pandemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04710784; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04710784.
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Background: The Mpox outbreak awakened countries worldwide to renew efforts in epidemiological surveillance and vaccination of susceptible populations. In terms of Mpox vaccination, various challenges exist in the global south, which impede adequate vaccine coverage, especially in Africa. This paper reviewed the situation of Mpox vaccination in the global south and potential ameliorative approaches. Methods: A review of online literature from PubMed and Google Scholar concerning Mpox vaccination in countries belonging to the 'global south' category was done between August and September, 2022. The major focus areas included inequity in global vaccine distribution, challenges impeding vaccine coverage in the global south, and potential strategies for bridging the gap in vaccine equity. The papers that met the inclusion criteria were collated and narratively discussed. Results: Our analysis revealed that, while the high-income countries secured large supplies of the Mpox vaccines, the low- and middle-income countries were unable to independently access substantial quantities of the vaccine and had to rely on vaccine donations from high-income countries, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges in the global south particularly revolved around inadequate vaccine production capacity due to lack of qualified personnel and specialized infrastructure for full vaccine development and manufacturing, limited cold chain equipment for vaccine distribution, and consistent vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: To tackle the trend of vaccine inequity in the global south, African governments and international stakeholders must invest properly in adequate production and dissemination of Mpox vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.
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INTRODUCTION: Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic widely used for treating ophthalmic infections, but concerns about rising bacterial resistance to chloramphenicol have been observed due to its frequent use as an over-the-counter medication. This review assessed the common ophthalmic bacterial pathogens, their chloramphenicol resistance mechanisms, and rates of drug resistance. METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant publications from the years 2000 to 2022, bordering on ophthalmic bacterial infections, chloramphenicol susceptibility profiles, and drug resistance mechanisms against chloramphenicol. A total of 53 journal publications met the inclusion criteria, with data on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles available in 44 of the reviewed studies, which were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean resistance rates to chloramphenicol from antibiotic susceptibility profiles varied between 0% and 74.1%, with the majority of the studies (86.4%) showing chloramphenicol resistance rates below 50%, and more than half (23 out of 44) of the studies showed resistance rates lower than 20%. The majority of the publications (n = 27; 61.4%) were from developed nations, compared to developing nations (n = 14; 31.8%), while a fraction (n = 3; 6.8%) of the studies were regional cohort studies in Europe, with no country-specific drug resistance rates. No pattern of cumulative increase or decrease in ophthalmic bacterial resistance to chloramphenicol was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Chloramphenicol is still active against ophthalmic bacterial infections and is suitable as a topical antibiotic for ophthalmic infections. However, concerns remain about the drug becoming unsuitable in the long run due to some proof of high drug resistance rates.
