Innovative tools to advance trachoma elimination in the context of COVID-19

Summary

This article brings attention to the importance of collaboration in the development and dissemination of new approaches, tools, and resources for Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The authors also highlight the pivotal role of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) COVID-19 taskforce and the NTD NGO Network (NNN) COVID-19 task group in sharing experiences, lessons learned and guidance/support materials for health ministries and partners.

Particular attention is drawn to the IAPB COVID-19 and Eye Health Knowledge Hub; the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Action (RAMA) tools (developed by the UK FCDO funded Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Disease (Ascend) West and Central Africa programme); and the new NTD Toolbox (developed by the USAID Act to End NTDs programmes).