SARS-CoV-2 variant typing using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based assays in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the SARS-CoV-2 variants in the first four COVID-19 waves using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based variant detection in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using repository nasopharyngeal samples stored at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute COVID-19 testing laboratory. Stored positive samples were randomly selected from the first four waves based on their sample collection date. A total of 641 nasopharyngeal samples were selected and re-tested for SARS-CoV-2. RNA was extracted using nucleic acid purification instrument. Then, SARS-CoV-2 detection was carried out using 10 µl RNA and 20 µl reverse transcription-PCR fluorescent mix. Cycle threshold values <38 were considered positive. Results: A total of 374 samples qualified for B.1.617 Lineage and six spike gene mutation variant typing kits. The variant typing kits identified 267 (71.4%) from the total qualifying samples. Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron were dominantly identified variants from waves I, II, III, and IV, respectively. From the total identified positive study samples, 243 of 267 (91%) of variants identified from samples had cycle threshold values <30. Conclusions: The study data demonstrated that reverse transcription-PCR-based variant typing can provide additional screening opportunities where sequencing opportunity is inaccessible. The assays could be implemented in laboratories performing SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing.

Promoción de la salud mental por medio de la siembra de huertas en Cali / Promotion of mental health through planting orchards in Cali

Investigaciones previas sobre la promoción de la salud por medio de la siembra consideran co-mo resultados el fortalecimiento de los lazos sociales, la práctica de hábitos de vida saludables y la atención a dificultades psicológicas. Así, se hace importante para este proyecto partir des-de una perspectiva sistémica y multidisciplinar de la salud que busca fortalecer aspectos de la salud mental (el apoyo social, el bienestar psicológico y calidad de vida) y de conocimientos en agroecología urbana (seguridad alimentaria, siembra y sostenimiento de cultivos), con personas habitantes de Cali, vinculados a la estrategia de la siembra de huertas caseras. Se basa en un enfoque cualitativo-transformativo, con un diseño de investigación-acción participativa. Con los resultados se espera promover aspectos de la salud y el bienestar de las relaciones consigo mismo, con los demás y con el entorno inmediato, así como el conocimiento básico para el cui-dado de la huerta. (AU)

Previous research on health promotion through planting considers the strengthening of social ties, the practice of healthy lifestyle habits, and attention to psychological difficulties as re-sults. Thus, it is important for this project to start from a systemic and multidisciplinary per-spective of health that seeks to strengthen aspects of mental health (social support, psycho-logical well-being and quality of life) and knowledge in urban agroecology (food security, planting and crop maintenance), with people from Cali, linked to the strategy of planting home gardens. It is based on a qualitative-transformative approach, with a participatory ac-tion research design. The results are expected to promote aspects of health and well-being in relationships with oneself, with others and with the immediate environment, as well as basic knowledge for caring for the garden. (AU)

Establishment of a Sentinel Laboratory-Based Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network in Ethiopia.

In 2014, as part of the Global Health Security Agenda, Ethiopia was provided the technical and financial resources needed to prioritize antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the national public health sphere. Under the direction of a multi-stakeholder working group, AMR surveillance was launched in July 2017 at 4 sentinel sites across the country. The AMR surveillance initiative in Ethiopia represents one of the first systematic efforts to prospectively collect, analyze, and report national-level microbiology results from a network of hospitals and public health laboratories in the country. Baseline readiness assessments were conducted to identify potential challenges to implementation to be addressed through capacity-building efforts. As part of these efforts, the working group leveraged existing resources, initiated laboratory capacity building through mentorship, and established infrastructure and systems for quality assurance, data management, and improved coordination. As a result, AMR surveillance data are being reported and analyzed for use; data from more than 1,700 patients were collected between July 2017 and March 2018. The critical challenges and effective solutions identified through surveillance planning and implementation have provided lessons to help guide successful AMR surveillance in other settings. Ultimately, the surveillance infrastructure, laboratory expertise, and communication frameworks built specifically for AMR surveillance in Ethiopia can be extended for use with other infectious diseases and potential public health emergencies. Thus, building AMR surveillance in Ethiopia has illustrated how laying the foundation for a specific public health initiative can develop capacity for core public health functions with potential benefit.