From Easing Lockdowns to Scaling Up Community-based Coronavirus Disease 2019 Screening, Testing, and Contact Tracing in Africa-Shared Approaches, Innovations, and Challenges to Minimize Morbidity and Mortality.

The arrival of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the African continent resulted in a range of lockdown measures that curtailed the spread of the infection but caused economic hardship. African countries now face difficult choices regarding easing of lockdowns and sustaining effective public health control measures and surveillance. Pandemic control will require efficient community screening, testing, and contact tracing; behavioral change interventions; adequate resources; and well-supported, community-based teams of trained, protected personnel. We discuss COVID-19 control approaches in selected African countries and the need for shared, affordable, innovative methods to overcome challenges and minimize mortality. This crisis presents a unique opportunity to align COVID-19 services with those already in place for human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis, malaria, and non communicable diseases through mobilization of Africa's interprofessional healthcare workforce. By addressing the challenges, the detrimental effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on African citizens can be minimized.

Cataract surgery and environmental sustainability: a comparative analysis of single-use versus reusable cassettes in phacoemulsification.

OBJECTIVE: To compare sustainability, financial implications and surgical efficiency of two phacoemulsification cassette systems for cataract surgery: a machine with single-use cassettes and another with daily, reusable ones. METHODS: Observational study involving retrospective cataract surgery data collection at the Centre Médical de l'Alliance, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium, a tertiary eye care centre. Information on cassette weight, quantities and transport volume was obtained from routine procedures and purchasing records. The costs for each machine were calculated by reviewing the invoices received from the accounting department. RESULTS: We found significant differences across comparisons. The reusable cassette machine, when compared with the single-use machine, used 306.7 kg less plastic (75.3% reduction), required 2494 m3 less storage per 1000 surgeries (67.7% decrease) and cost €54.16 less per 10 procedures (16.9% reduction). The machine with daily reusable cassettes also exhibited a 7-minute priming time advantage for 10 procedures, reducing downtime between cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the benefits of adopting reusable cassette systems: reduced plastic consumption, storage volume and priming time, as well as enhanced efficiency and cost-savings. Healthcare professionals and institutions are encouraged to embrace environmentally conscious initiatives. The use of reusable cassette systems for cataract surgeries offers a pathway to sustainable practices.

Stellate Nonhereditary Idiopathic Foveomacular Retinoschisis: Cataract Surgery.

Purpose: We present the first case described in the literature of cataract surgery in a patient with stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis (SNIF). Methods: In this case report, we describe the extensive workup we did on our patient, including optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, fluo-angiography, full field electroretinogram, and genetic testing. We moreover describe the cataract surgery with clear lens extraction and implanting of a multifocal implant. Results: The refractive and lifestyle profile of our patient made implantation of multifocal intraocular implants the only solution for this case. During preoperative measurements, a SNIF diagnosis was suspected after optic coherence tomography imaging which led to an even more extensive workup of our patient and the diagnosis of stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis. We then proceeded to cataract surgery, which was performed safely and without any sequellae. Conclusion: Stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis (SNIF) is a relatively new disease entity. Only few cases in the literature describe this disease, and none of them describe cataract surgery in a patient with SNIF. We therefore describe the first known cataract surgery in such a case. Long term follow-up results show that the procedure can be performed safely. Summary Statement. We hereby present the first case described in the literature of cataract surgery of a patient diagnosed with stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis. A clear lens extraction with implantation of a multifocal intraocular implant was conducted with excellent postoperative results and a happy patient.

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the Prevention or Treatment of COVID-19 in Africa: Caution for Inappropriate Off-label Use in Healthcare Settings.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 pandemic has spread to Africa, where nearly all countries have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Although there are ongoing clinical trials of repurposed and investigational antiviral and immune-based therapies, there are as yet no scientifically proven, clinically effective pharmacological treatments for COVID-19. Among the repurposed drugs, the commonly used antimalarials chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have become the focus of global scientific, media, and political attention despite a lack of randomized clinical trials supporting their efficacy. Chloroquine has been used worldwide for about 75 years and is listed by the WHO as an essential medicine to treat malaria. Hydroxychloroquine is mainly used as a therapy for autoimmune diseases. However, the efficacy and safety of CQ/HCQ for the treatment of COVID-19 remains to be defined. Indiscriminate promotion and widespread use of CQ/HCQ have led to extensive shortages, self-treatment, and fatal overdoses. Shortages and increased market prices leave all countries vulnerable to substandard and falsified medical products, and safety issues are especially concerning for Africa because of its healthcare system limitations. Much needed in Africa is a cross-continental collaborative network for coordinated production, distribution, and post-marketing surveillance aligned to low-cost distribution of any approved COVID-19 drug; this would ideally be piggybacked on existing global aid efforts. Meanwhile, African countries should strongly consider implementing prescription monitoring schemes to ensure that any off-label CQ/HCQ use is appropriate and beneficial during this pandemic.

Responding to the Challenge of the Dual COVID-19 and Ebola Epidemics in the Democratic Republic of Congo-Priorities for Achieving Control.

As of June 11, 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 4,258 COVID-19 cases with 90 deaths. With other African countries, the DRC faces the challenge of striking a balance between easing public health lockdown measures to curtail the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and minimizing both economic hardships for large sectors of the population and negative impacts on health services for other infectious and noninfectious diseases. The DRC recently controlled its tenth Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, but COVID-19 and a new EVD outbreak beginning on June 1, 2020 in the northwest Équateur Province have added an additional burden to health services. Although the epidemiology and transmission of EVD and COVID-19 differ, leveraging the public health infrastructures and experiences from coordinating the EVD response to guide the public health response to COVID-19 is critical. Building on the DRC's 40 years of experience with 10 previous EVD outbreaks, we highlight the DRC's multi-sectoral public health approach to COVID-19, which includes community-based screening, testing, contact-tracing, risk communication, community engagement, and case management. We also highlight remaining challenges and discuss the way forward for achieving control of both COVID-19 and EVD in the DRC.