8th ICAN Congress 2021 Speakers - SBS Conferences & Exhibitions

ICAN would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the following speakers for sharing their expertise at the 8th ICAN Congress.

pre-congress training workshops (22 NOVEMBER 2021)

ABOUT

Mrs Anna Vorndran received a B.Cur at RAU University upon graduating in 1983. She has worked in various hospitals and with specialists; later doing an International Business Management Diploma through Damelin Business School and Millpark. She has been working in Primary Care for 14 years with a focus on Nursing Development, Infection Prevention and Control, Occupational Health and Safety, COHSASA Accreditation, ISO Accreditation and Quality Control.

Anna’s work history includes:

Clinical Risk Manager in the private sector, concentrating on IPC, H&S, ISO and COHSASA and training of Nursing and HCW in IPC, with Best Care Always implementation for the Mediclinic Group.
Training Co-ordinator for the Surmepi/UIPC as lecturer in Infection Prevention Control for HCW at Stellenbosch University.
Clinical Head of Fair Cape Industries.

Anna started with ICAN in January 2015 as Project Manager for the Ebola project in Sierra Leone and Executive Manager for ICAN, a position she holds currently. Anna is working with Prof Mehtar, with the involvement of ICAN, to establish and promote IPC training programmes and structures across Africa. She runs the ICAN financial office including all the day to day activities, logistics, conferences and marketing. She is also a lecturer on Basic IPC for HCW/IPC & WASH courses; and part of the faculty and scientific committee for conferences. Anna is part of the ECHO Management Team in ICAN as well as a team member of the ACDC TWG IPC working group since May 2020 focusing on training and presenting at the ACDC/ICAN webinars. She is part of the core team on Training in Africa with projects like RTSL in African countries on the monitoring and evaluation of IPC standards in HCF, especially Primary Health Care.

Mrs Vorndran will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Presenting on the Basic requirements for an IPC programme during the aforementioned workshop.
Presenting on the ACDC/ICAN webinar series during the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10.

ABOUT

Joost Hopman, MD, PhD, DTM&H, born 11/08/1976 is working as medical director and consultant microbiologist in the Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. Since 2020 he has chaired the Prevention Committee, that coordinates all prevention projects and programs in the Radboudumc. He acts as a consultant for Doctors without Borders (Médecins sans frontières) Amsterdam. He is an advisory board member of the Infection Control African Network (ICAN) and a board member of the Dutch IPC section of the Netherlands Society of Medical Microbiology (NVMM).

During the COVID-19 pandemic he has served as a member of the WHO Environment and Engineering Control Expert Advisor Panel (ECAP) for COVID-19, the WHO ad-hoc COVID-19 IPC expert group and the Federation Medical Specialists (FMS) Guideline development expert group IPC, the Netherlands. Furthermore he acts as chair of the COVID-19 Outbreak Management Team, University Medical Center Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Dr Hopman will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Establishing IPC programmes in an emergency situation during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The built environment and AMR session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Briëtte du Toit (B.Cur, PGDIPC, MSc.IPC ) is currently working for ICAN (Infection Control Africa Network) as the Programme Manager & Training Coordinator.

Briëtte has vast experience in the development and implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) strategy, the development of training material and e-learning modules, clinical risk management, clinical audits, quality improvement, implementation of electronic surveillance systems, project management, hospital design, implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes and policy and guideline development. Briëtte was part of the IPC Technical working group for the COVID-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee and assisted with the COVID-19 National Guideline development as well as the National IPC Strategic Framework and Implementation Guide.

Briëtte has a Post Graduate Diploma and Masters degree in IPC and has completed a certificate course at Harvard University in Airborne Infection Control.

Mrs du Toit will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on the Experience from the private sector during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Presenting on a Short introduction on the routes of transmission and specifically airborne transmission/Importance of triage and screening/ventilation during the A broader perspective on IPC and airborne infections session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Buyiswa Lizzie Sithole-Mazibuko is an Infection Control Specialist who works for ICAN. She is currently serving as Technical Advisor supporting the Ministry of Health IPC Pillar in Uganda. She is a Certified Trainer for Hand Hygiene Compliance and Monitoring (accredited to WHO Collaborating Centre). Buyiswa has worked in Ebola Response in Sierra Leone under WHO and worked closely with CDC and other Partners. She has an interest in hand hygiene and SSD Programs in low-middle resource settings. She is involved in the development and strengthening of IPC Programs and Guidelines in some African Countries and has authored and co-authored several Hand Hygiene Papers. Buyiswa is a member of the IPC Training TWG on the Africa Task Force for Novel Coronavirus.

Ms Sithole-Mazibuko will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on a A programme within a programme – improving hand hygiene implementation during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT where she will share more on how to improve hand hygiene implementation in low resource settings.
Participating in the panel discussion during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Val Robertson recently retired as a lecturer in the University of Zimbabwe. She is a medical microbiologist and a founder member of the Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe. She is the Hon. Secretary for the Infection Control Africa Network From 2011-2019 she led the ZIPCOP and HATIPP-ZIM projects, supported by CDC-PEPFAR working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to strengthen the National IPC programme. She is currently co-Chair of the National IPC Pillar which is part of the MoHCC response to COVID -19 in Zimbabwe and technical advisor for two projects working with District Hospitals and primary healthcare centres on IPC-COVID-19 related activities.

Prof Robertson will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on From an IPC project to a national IPC programme. An example from Zimbabwe during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Andy Bulabula is a Medical Doctor, Clinical Epidemiologist and Doctor in Public Health (focus areas: IPC and Epidemiology). He has a passion for research, programme development and implementation in the field of infectious diseases epidemiology and IPC. He is a member of ICAN, APIC, ISID and has spoken at several international and regional conferences. He has worked with universities, Ministries of Health and international organisations (ICAN, WHO, CDC, ICAP at Columbia). His research works have produced synthesis of evidence (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and original primary research. Andy has worked in several African countries (Francophone and Anglophone) strengthening IPC programmes.

Dr Bulabula will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Training support for an IPC programme. Developing an IPC programme in the DRC during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Presenting on the ECHO programmes across Africa during the IPC Collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Infection Prevention and Control program implementation in low resource settings: lessons learned from Mbandaka, DR Congo during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Angela Dramowski is an Associate Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. She has a passion for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship, with a research focus on the treatment and prevention of infections in hospitalised neonates and children in low-resource settings.

Prof Dramowski will chairing the Setting up point prevalence surveillance of HAIs workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Annick Lenglet is an infectious disease field epidemiologist with over 15 years working experience in countries in Latin America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe. She has worked on the design, implementation and evaluation of surveillance systems, led and collaborated on largescale outbreak response efforts, led an participated on operational research linked to hepatitis A and E, cholera, noma, antimicrobial resistance, mental health, and non-communicable diseases. She has also actively responded to multiple humanitarian emergencies in recent years.

Ms Lenglet will be presenting on Setting up an HAI point prevalence programme during the Setting up point prevalence surveillance of HAIs workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Ms Lenglet’s presentation will provide an overview of the theoretical and practical considerations around the implementation of a point prevalence survey programme in a healthcare facility.

ABOUT

Dr Appiah-Korang Labi, Clinical Microbiologist holds a part-time teaching position at the Department of Medical Microbiology University of Ghana Medical School and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. He is currently working as a Technical officer at the WHO Ghana country office on AMR Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT IT).

His areas of expertise include surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic use and healthcare associated infections, infection control, quality assurance in clinical microbiology laboratories and research.

Dr Labi will be presenting on Point prevalence of healthcare associated infections in LMICs – an experience from Ghana during the Setting up point prevalence surveillance of HAIs workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Neal Russell worked with St George’s Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and partners in the NeoAMR network funded by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), particularly on a multicountry study of neonatal sepsis in 19 neonatal sites across 11 countries, 3 of which were in Africa. Within this study we conducted a point prevalence survey of antibiotic use and healthcare associated infection in neonatal units which we wish to share and discuss. I also now work with MSF in an advisory role.

Dr Russell will be presenting with Dr Christina Obiero on Hospital-associated infection (HAI) point-prevalence survey (PPS) for Neonates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): the NeoOBS study during the Setting up point prevalence surveillance of HAIs workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

This presentation will focus on a multi-country point prevalence survey of healthcare associated infections in neonatal units. We will discuss the design, preliminary results, and contribute to the debate on the use of PPS methodology for HAI measurement.

ABOUT

Dr Christina Obiero worked as a medical researcher at the Kenya Medical Research Institute – Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya between Feb 2014 and Aug 2020, where she led/co-led several research projects investigating the aetiology, diagnosis and management of serious infection in young children in rural Kenya. She is a co-investigator of the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) Neofosfo clinical trial and the NeoObs observational study in Kilifi. These studies investigated the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of fosfomycin antibiotic in hospitalized neonates and collected robust data on the aetiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome of neonatal sepsis. Christina holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Public Health degree from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at the Johns Hopkins University. She is currently undertaking her PhD work at the University of Amsterdam and is an Assistant Editor of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. She is an International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) Emerging Leader in Infectious Diseases and a member of the Delta Omega Alpha Chapter (Bloomberg School of Public Health).

Dr Obiero will be presenting with Dr Neill Russell on Hospital-associated infection (HAI) point-prevalence survey (PPS) for Neonates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): the NeoOBS study during the Setting up point prevalence surveillance of HAIs workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

ABOUT

Dr Marwen Fakhfakh is a Tunisian Medical Doctor. He completed his medical studies in Tunisia and spent three years working in an emergency department at a university hospital. He is currently working with the international NGO Médecins sans Frontieres in Bangladesh as a Hospital Clinical Leader. He has previously worked with MSF in South Sudan and DRC.

Dr Fakhfakh will be presenting on the Point prevalence survey for antibiotic use in a hospital for Rohingya in Bangladesh during the Setting up point prevalence surveillance of HAIs workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Bangladesh Ministry of Health acknowledge AMR as a major global public health issue. Easy availability without prescription and unqualified antimicrobials influences the emergence of resistance. In Kutupalong field hospital, neighboring the Rohingyas refugee camp, a point prevalence survey was conducted. The results show that the prescription is influenced by local protocols and the availability of therapeutic options.

ABOUT

Dr Bulabula will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Training support for an IPC programme. Developing an IPC programme in the DRC during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Presenting on the ECHO programmes across Africa during the IPC Collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Infection Prevention and Control program implementation in low resource settings: lessons learned from Mbandaka, DR Congo during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Mr Adejuwon Soyinka is a two-time International Emmy Awards nominee, multiple award-winning investigative journalist and editor with over 20 years of experience reporting for local and international media as well as working in corporate communication, political communication and media relations. In addition to the Emmys, Soyinka is a proud recipient of 12 other journalism awards and 11 nominations including the One World Media Awards 2019; BBC Media Awards (2018); British Journalism Awards, 2019; Nigerian Media Merits Awards; Diamond Awards for Media Excellence and the Wole Soyinka Prize for Investigative Journalism.

Mr Soyinka will be participating in The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The session will cover:

Who The Conversation Africa is
The importance of science communication
The benefits of our platform

For the current day researcher, research visibility matters. While publishing in peer-reviewed journals is vital, it is also useful and good practice to consider other ways of communicating research and reaching wider audiences beyond academia and gain wider exposure. The Conversation Africa (TC-Africa) will conduct this pre-conference science communication training workshop. The workshop is designed to be an interactive session to help researchers to learn to refine how they communicate their research insights and findings to the general public or policy makers for wider societal engagement and impact. Importantly, the workshop will also empower attendees on how to pitch and publish successfully on The Conversation Africa platform.

ABOUT

Pfungwa Nyamukachi heads up university partnerships and stakeholder relations for The Conversation Africa. She has a wealth of experience working in the university and media sector in Africa. Pfungwa holds two Masters degrees, one in Administration from the University of Pretoria and also a Masters in Science Policy Studies from Stellenbosch University where she majored in innovation systems, bibliometrics/scientometrics; research utilisation, evaluation and science communication.

Miss Nyamukachi will be participating in The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The session will cover:

Who The Conversation Africa is
The importance of science communication
The benefits of our platform

ABOUT

Candice Bailey is the Strategic Initiatives Editor at The Conversation Africa, where she trains academics how t o write for the media. Prior to this she was the title’s Health and Medicine Editor. In her 18 year career as a journalist she has worked at several major daily and weekly newspapers in South Africa including The Star newspaper. She has a masters degree in Politics and Development Studies and has just finalised her PhD in access to information and democracy.

Miss Bailey will be participating in The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The session will cover:

Who The Conversation Africa is
The importance of science communication
The benefits of our platform

ABOUT

Wale Fatade has been a journalist for 25 years and also had stints in the development sector with some international agencies. A past winner of the Nigeria Media Merit Award, he is a graduate of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and was also a Ford Foundation International Fellow at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York between 2004 and 2005, graduating with a Master of Science degree.

Mr Fatade will be participating in The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The session will cover:

Who The Conversation Africa is
The importance of science communication
The benefits of our platform

ABOUT

Prof Shaheen Mehtar trained in the UK in Microbiology and has been an IPC specialist for 50 years. She is an internationally recognised expert in IPC and has supported setting up IPC programmes internationally. She has been part of the Guideline Development Group for WHO since 1990 and served on ACDC committees on national IPC programmes.

Prof Mehtar will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 23 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h00 CAT.
Presenting on Building a national IPC programme during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Presenting on the Impact of vaccines on HCW outcomes during the Healthchare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
Presenting on “What shall I wear today?” Clarifying the message and guidance during the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Martin Boeree, MD, PhD, FRCP Edin, is Professor in Clinical Tuberculosis and other Mycobacterial Diseases. After specialisation as a respiratory physician he went to Blantyre, Malawi to join the College of Medicine. He headed the Department of Medicine from 1996-2000. He has built experience with the treatment and research of tuberculosis. He served as advisor for the National TB Program. In 2000, he joined the Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen and was Director of the TB referral Hospital Dekkerswald from 2005 until 2010. He was Chair for the Dutch Society of Tropical Medicine and the Federation of the European Societies of Tropical Medicine and International Health. He is national consultant TB for KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and the Dutch Thoracic Society. He is coordinator and Chief Investigator of the PanACEA consortium focusing on the quest for the “right” dose of rifampicine and the development of new regimen with optimized and new drugs to shorten the duration of treatment in TB. He now recently was appointed as coordinator in the IMI public private partnership consortium UNITE4TB.

Prof Boeree will be presenting on New developments in TB treatment, how does it influence TB control during the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Sam Kariuki obtained his DVM (1989) and MSc (1991) from University of Nairobi, and PhD from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (1997). He is a Chief Research Officer at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and currently the substantive Director, Research and Development and Acting Director General at KEMRI. He is Fellow, African Academy of Sciences, Honorary Faculty, OSU and a Wellcome Sanger Honorary Faculty. He is a visiting Professor of Tropical Microbiology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and a member of the American Society for Microbiology. He serves as a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (STAG-AMR) and previously as a member of the Advisory Group for Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AGISAR).

His research interests are in epidemiology and genomics of enteric bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, including invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis (NTS) and typhoid fever, Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli. He has authored 162 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 4 text books on Antimicrobial Resistance and Food Safety. He led the initiative to develop Situation Analysis and the National Action Plan to combat and control Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya. He is a member of the National Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee overseeing the implementation of the National Action Plan in Kenya.

Prof Kariuki will be presenting on AMR and the One Health approach, and the role of IPC/biosafety in combating AMR threat during the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Daniel VanderEnde, MD, MPH, DTM&H, is a Medical Officer in the International Infection Control Program in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr VanderEnde received his bachelor’s degree at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, and his MD at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his clinical residency in internal medicine at the Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee and his MPH from the Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia. He also completed a public policy fellowship at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute in the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Dr VanderEnde has practiced medicine and directed quality improvement initiatives in domestic and international healthcare facilities. Prior to joining CDC in 2015 he directed communicable disease programs as the Medical Program Administrator for the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness based in Atlanta, Georgia. Starting in 2015, he has served as a Medical Officer of the International Infection Control Program, supporting efforts in Africa, Asia, the Carribean and the Middle East to build sustainable capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to healthcare associated infections globally. In 2018, Dr VanderEnde began and is continuing to support efforts to to build sustainable capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to healthcare associated infections in India.

Dr VanderEnde will be presenting on Quality improvement, IPC and behavioural change – an example from India during the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Dr VanderEnde’s presentation will discuss how quality improvement and behavior change methods are being used to improve healthcare associated infections in a national network of tertiary care hospitals in India.

congress KEYNOTE SPEAKERS (23 - 25 nOVEMBER 2021)

ABOUT

Sade Ogunsola is a Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the College of Medicine University of Lagos, Nigeria and the Chairperson of the Infection Control African Network. She has been involved in Infection Control for over 25 years and contributed significantly in raising awareness of and building capacity in Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria. She was a founding member of the Nigerian Infection Control Association in 1998 and has assisted in setting up infection control programs in institutions in the country. She has been deployed on several occasions for Infection Prevention and Control during outbreaks of Ebola disease and was the team lead for IPC in Nigeria. She is presently on the Government think tank for COVID 19 in Lagos state Nigeria and the African Task force for the novel Corona virus where she serves on the guidelines, training and research committees.

Prof Ogunsola will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Delivering the welcome address during the congress’ opening ceremony on 23 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID-19 in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on PHC and COVID: The ICAN/Resolve Project during the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Developing IPC training programmes for Africa – the ICAN experience during the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 24 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 25 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Delivering the closing address during the congress’ closing and awards ceremony on 25 November 2021 from 17h40 – 18h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Christian Happi, is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics and Director of the World Bank funded African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) in Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria.

Professor Christian Happi, did his postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University from 2000-2003. He subsequently worked at Harvard University as a Research Scientist (2004-2007) and became an adjunct Professor at Harvard University School of Public Health between 2007-2011.

Professor Happi in an unprecedented way, recently used next generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the new SARS-CoV-2 in Africa, within 48 hours of receiving sample of the first case in Nigeria. This seminal work not only provided an insight into the detailed genetic map of the new coronavirus in Africa, not only to confirm the origin of the virus, but also to pave the way to the development of new countermeasures including new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

He received the Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award in 2011; the 2016 Award of Excellence in Research, by the Committee of Vice- Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; the 2019 Human Genome Organization (HUGO) Africa Prize for his seminal work on infectious diseases genomics in Africa, including Ebola and Lassa fever and the 2020 Bailey K. Ashford Medal by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). In 2021, he received The Trinity Challenge Award: Sentinel forecasting systems for Infectious Disease Risk, Africa Lives-Development Award and became a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria.

Prof Happi will be delivering the keynote address entitled Preparing for the Next Epidemic: Emerging Viruses in Africa on the first day of the congress on 23 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Genomics characterization and surveillance of microbial threats in West Africa: Identification and characterization of microbial threats such as infectious bacteria and viruses from human-to-human or animal-to-human transmission remains crucial in public health, most especially in a globally connected world. Diseases from the most remote village in the world can spread to the most civilized city in under 48 hours because of ease in travel and doing business in the twenty-first century. Furthermore, West African countries have been adversely affected with several infectious diseases ranging from Lassa, Ebola, Yellow fever, Dengue and the novel human coronavirus which have resulted in thousands of deaths. Here, we applied an unbiased next generation sequencing approach also known as metagenomics to detect and characterize a wide range of infectious diseases in the region from clinical samples such as blood, saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs in symptomatic and asymptomatic people during different outbreaks. Asides sequencing, we have adopted a novel and advanced diagnostic technique called CRISPR-Cas-13a (SHERLOCK) technology to develop high sensitive rapid diagnostic kits to detect SARS-CoV2, Lassa, Dengue and Ebola virus with both fluorescent and lateral flow readouts. In addition, we have also established a surveillance system in place in collaboration with health agencies in order to swiftly respond to disease outbreaks and also monitor genomic variants of viruses in real-time by using cutting edge computational tools and infrastructure at the ACEGID laboratory to study mutations and how they affect the host.

ABOUT

Professor Akin Abayomi is a specialist in Internal Medicine, Haematology-oncology, Biosecurity and Environmental health. He received his First degree in Medicine at the Royal Medical College of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the University of London, with fellowship from both Royal College of Medicine and Pathology in the United Kingdom and the College of Medicine of South Africa.

His Focus has been mainly on the concept of emerging infectious diseases and the development of diagnostic and clinical capacity in Africa.

Professor Abayomi was Chief Pathologist and Head of the Division of Haematology at the University of Stellenbosch’s Faculty of Medicine Science in 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to the he was a Consultant at the University of West Indies and the University of Zimbabwe. He has been exposed to a vast variety of geographical variations and disease patterns within the field of Internal Medicine having worked in diverse countries of the world. Prof Abayomi is a fellow of the African Academy of Science.

Akin Abayomi is the Founder of the Global Emerging Pathogen Consortium also known as GET, which was entrenched at the peak of the Ebola outbreak to address Biosecurity concerns in Africa. He is a member of the Board and Honorary Professor to the Center for Biosecurity Studies, University of the West Indies. Cave hill Campus, Barbados, Caribbean. (2018), as well as a Professor of Medicine at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos, Nigeria (2018).

He is a consultant to the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) Biosecurity and Biobanking framework to service the ECOWAS member. Professor Akin Abayomi is now the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Nigeria under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Prof Happi will be delivering the keynote address entitled Yves Chartier Memorial Lecture – The Hospital Environment and WASH on the second day of the congress on 24 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Stacey Mearns is an outbreak specialist, public health professional, and medical doctor, with 14 years’ experience within the health sector, including 7 years working in humanitarian emergencies and outbreak response. She has extensive experience in the delivery of clinical and public health programs in emergencies, as well as outbreak preparedness and response. She has supported IPC projects across a wide variety of contexts, health system levels, and settings. She is a member of the UK Royal College of Physicians and holds a Masters in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). She was the former Senior Technical Advisor for Emergency Health at the International Rescue Committee. She has recently joined the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) as an Infection Prevention and Control Specialist. The UK-PHRST is funded by UK Aid from the Department of Health and Social Care and is jointly run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and LSHTM.

Dr Mearns will be delivering the keynote address entitled Moving from Reactive to Proactive Responses in IPC on the third day of the congress on 25 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.

SPEAKERS - DAY 1 (23 November 2021)

ABOUT

Prof Ogunsola will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Delivering the welcome address during the congress’ opening ceremony on 23 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID-19 in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on PHC and COVID: The ICAN/Resolve Project during the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Developing IPC training programmes for Africa – the ICAN experience during the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 24 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 25 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Delivering the closing address during the congress’ closing and awards ceremony on 25 November 2021 from 17h40 – 18h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Landry Kabego is a medical Doctor and Medical Virologist. He is currently working with the World Health Organization/ Regional Office for Africa in the Department of Emergency Preparedness and Response as an IPC officer. He has supported Ebola responses from 2018 until now in DRC, Guinea, and Ivory-Coast; Marburg response in Guinea; Covid-19 response in Africa and Cholera response in West-Africa. As part of his work, he is guiding member states on the process of establishing and strengthening their IPC programs at national and healthcare facility levels, by developing national and facility action plans.

Dr Landry will be presenting on the Response to COVID-19: WHO AFRO overview during the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Yewande Alimi is the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Program Coordinator at Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and co-lead for the Africa Union Task force on AMR. She co-chairs the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Section for the COVID-19 response across the continent and provides technical IPC support to the Africa Task Force for Coronavirus.

Dr Alimi is a trained Veterinary Surgeon and holds a Masters degree in Public Health (International Health) from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Drawing on a range of experience that includes veterinary medicine, public health policy and research, Dr Alimi currently leads the implementation of the Africa Union Framework for AMR Control in Africa Union member states. She also leads on the One Health activities, development and implementation of One Health programs within Africa CDC, across the African Union organizations and member states.

Before joining the Africa CDC, Dr Alimi practised as a Veterinary Surgeon in Nigeria. She worked as a research analyst at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Health Technology Assessment, Austria and CompanDX, United Kingdom.

She serves on several advisory boards and groups across the continent and globally. She is the One Health Technical Advisor for Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium. She is a member of the Scientific Task Force to Prevent Pandemics at the Source for the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Center.

Dr Alimi will be presenting multiple times during the congress, including:

Presenting on the Response to COVID-19: WHO AFRO overview during the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on Developing a legal framework for Africa: Africa CDC during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Africa CDC – AMR overview during the Antimicrobial Resistance: where are we in Africa session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Marc Mendelson is an Infectious Disease Specialist, slave to public service, COVID-19 and AMR.

Prof Mendelson will be presenting on the Trials and tribulations of an ID specialist during COVID-19 during the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Basma Mnif, MD, MSc and PhD, is professor of medical microbiology working at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Tunisia. Dr Mnif obtained her MD from Sfax University, Tunisia in 2004. She trained in Medical Microbiology in France and obtained her PhD degree from Paris VI University. She has more than 15 years of experience in practicing and teaching medical microbiology. Her research interest is mainly focused on antimicrobial resistance, especially extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases that are extensively spreading in Tunisia and worldwide. She published extensively in this field in high impact medical journal https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Basma_Mnif. She have a great experience in typing bacteria and the surveillance of MDR bacteria and nosocomial infections.

Prof Mnif will be chairing two sessions during the congress, including:

The Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
The Scientific presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Alison Laufer Halpin, PhD, directs the Office of Scientific Innovation and Integration in the Clinical and Environmental Microbiology Branch of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) at CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, leads a group of epidemiologists, laboratory scientists and bioinformaticians in leveraging next generation technologies and bioinformatics applications to better understand, prevent, and contain healthcare-associated infections; in investigations of healthcare-associated outbreaks, surveillance for and detection of novel antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and microbiome research. The group studies the molecular epidemiology of common healthcare-associated infections, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Clostridium difficile, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Dr Laufer Halpin will be presenting on Innovations in diagnostics for HAIs: impact of the microbiome during the Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

This topic will cover the use of metagenomics in infection prevention, including examples of translational research advancing the use of microbiome for infection prevention as well as potential applications of microbiome and metagenomics for infection prevention.

ABOUT

Prof Adebola Olayinka is a Professor of Medical Microbiology and an infection control expert for preparedness and response to highly pathogenic infections. She has supported the Ebola response in West Africa (Sierra Leone and Nigeria) and also COVID in Nigeria, Gambia and Ghana in Infection Prevention preparedness and response. In Nigeria she supports the National IPC team in development of policies and guidelines. She is a mentor, a teacher and a trainer. She serves as the WHO IPC focal point for the Nigeria country office and is the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Society for Infection Control and a member of the ICAN board.

Prof Olayinka will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Rethinking HAI definitions for Africa during the Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT where she will consider the challenges faced by African nations in the adaptation of case definitions.
Chairing the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on Cholera: HAI and community acquired during the Trends in HAIs session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT where she will consider the application of IPC in the control of predictable epidemic prone diseases on the African continent.

ABOUT

Dr Maha Talaat is the regional adviser for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infection prevention and control (IPC) at the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization. She leads a multidisciplinary program to enhance the capacities of 22 countries in the region to combat AMR and strengthen IPC programs. Dr Talaat holds master’s and doctoral degrees in public health and epidemiology and has more than 50 publications in international journals and presented in 53 international meetings and conferences. She has more than 30 years of experience in public health and epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases. She has been leading more than 30 national and international public health programs in various technical areas such as supporting countries in epidemiology, surveillance, IPC, and AMR. She has excellent managerial skills and contributes to building capacities in several countries. She is leading the IPC pillar for the COVID-19 response in the region.

Dr Talaat will be presenting on Standardizing HAI definitions during the Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are the most serious patient safety issue in healthcare, with a substantial impact on morbidity and mortality, and a high economic burden especially in resource-limited settings. Surveillance capacity varies considerably for LMIC recognizing the context of different health care systems. The choice of type of surveillance should depends on in-country and hospital level capacity in clinical, laboratory and data handling; start-up and ongoing costs of the proposed surveillance system; and sustainability of the proposed surveillance system. The aim of the presentation is to describe the various types of surveillance systems including limitations in use of the current global case definitions, and how the WHO in collaboration with global partners develop reliable and effective models of surveillance that would fit the various capacities of LMIC.

ABOUT

Prof Robertson will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on From an IPC project to a national IPC programme. An example from Zimbabwe during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Alimi will be presenting multiple times during the congress, including:

Presenting on the Response to COVID-19: WHO AFRO overview during the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on Developing a legal framework for Africa: Africa CDC during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Africa CDC – AMR overview during the Antimicrobial Resistance: where are we in Africa session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Mehtar will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 23 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h00 CAT.
Presenting on Building a national IPC programme during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Presenting on the Impact of vaccines on HCW outcomes during the Healthchare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
Presenting on “What shall I wear today?” Clarifying the message and guidance during the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Christopher Lee is a medical epidemiologist and global expert on health security preparedness and epidemic response, and oversees Resolve to Save Lives’ preparedness and response implementation portfolio in Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Lee has led a $20 million response effort, including technical assistance to countries and international organizations on COVID-19 surveillance, epidemiology, contact tracing, public health and social measures, and infection prevention and control. Dr Lee received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed master’s degrees in public health and refugee studies respectively at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Oxford. Prior to his current role, he worked in multiple countries with the International Organization for Migration with a focus on forced migration, served as a primary care physician with a special focus on homelessness, was an epidemic intelligence service (EIS) officer at the US CDC, and was a medical officer at the US CDC in the global immunization division. Dr Lee is a citizen of Canada.

Dr Lee will be presenting on Beyond the technical – budgeting in IPC during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Epidemics and pandemics continue to highlight the importance of, and the gaps in, infection prevention and control (IPC). In the African context, IPC is often seen as an emergency response function that is financed with donor support, rather than a core element of health systems at the intersection of health service delivery and health security. While technical guidance for national IPC programs and core components exist, implementation remains hindered by adequate domestic investment. This presentation will highlight what steps are needed by national and global actors for sustained IPC financing, including demonstrating the return on investment and the value of budget advocacy by IPC specialists at all levels.

ABOUT

Dr Tochi Okwor is the AMR and IPC Coordinator at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and chairs Nigeria’s National AMR Coordination Committee. She Co-Chairs the IPC Technical Working Group of the Africa Task Force for Novel Coronavirus. She is also a member of the Global Health Strategy Group for AMR.

Dr Okwor has played a pioneering role in the institutionalization of AMR and IPC in Nigeria through her involvement in policy development, human resources mapping, technical content development and resource mobilization. She developed a strategy for the institutionalization of IPC in Nigeria this ‘Turn Nigeria Orange’ strategy, is Nigeria’s national IPC programme.

Dr Okwor is a graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria with an MPH from the University of Lagos, a Master’s in Occupational Medicine from the University of Manchester and a Postgraduate Certificate in Infection Control from the University of Essex. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Dr Okwor will be presenting on The Orange Network: building a national programme in Nigeria during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Dr Okwor will be sharing her experience in setting up the National IPC programme in line with the WHO core components using a stepwise implementation strategy called “Turn Nigeria Orange (TNO)” and the further establishment of a network of health facilities (Orange Network) across Nigeria, to become centres of IPC excellence by setting up functional health facility IPC programmes.

ABOUT

Nkwan Jacob Gobte is a nurse working with the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, in Cameroon. He has 19 years of experience in infection prevention and control (IPC), water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). He served as the pioneer IPC/WASH nurse and chair of IPC committee of Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) from 2002 to 2007, and then IPC supervisor and chair of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services CBCHS) IPC committee from 2011 to 2019.

As the lead IPC nurse, he conceived and implemented several IPC/WASH projects that raised IPC/WASH practices in BBH and other facilities of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services to acceptable standards. The introduction of local ABHR production and improvement in hand hygiene practices in general lead to the successful elimination of neonatal sepsis in the maternity unit of BBH in 2006. ABHR now used in all the health facilities of the CBCHS has contributed significantly to improved hand hygiene practices in all the facilities of the CBC Health Services.

His work has attracted several national and international awards including, third IFIC sponsorship award in 2004, OXIOID infection control team of the year in 2006, CBCHS cleanest hospital award in 2006, APIC International Ambassador Award in 2018, SHEA Hero of Infection Control in 2019.

He is a current member of several IPC and professional associations including:

Infection Prevention and Control Association of Cameroon
Infection Control African Network (ICAN)
Infection Prevention and Control Association (IPAC) of Canada
Association of Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
Society for Health Care Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
Cameroon Bioethics Association (CAMBIN)
Cameroon Nurses Association (CNA)

He is a holder of a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences degree from the University of Buea and Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Roehampton. He is currently doing a post graduate course in infection prevention and control with the University of Radboud, in Netherlands. He has published several articles.

Mr Gobte will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Advocacy for IPC programmes – the way forward during the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Participating in the panel discussion during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Ogunsola will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Delivering the welcome address during the congress’ opening ceremony on 23 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID-19 in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on PHC and COVID: The ICAN/Resolve Project during the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Developing IPC training programmes for Africa – the ICAN experience during the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 24 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 25 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Delivering the closing address during the congress’ closing and awards ceremony on 25 November 2021 from 17h40 – 18h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Anna’s work history includes:

Clinical Risk Manager in the private sector, concentrating on IPC, H&S, ISO and COHSASA and training of Nursing and HCW in IPC, with Best Care Always implementation for the Mediclinic Group.
Training Co-ordinator for the Surmepi/UIPC as lecturer in Infection Prevention Control for HCW at Stellenbosch University.
Clinical Head of Fair Cape Industries.

Mrs Vorndran will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Presenting on the Basic requirements for an IPC programme during the aforementioned workshop.
Presenting on the ACDC/ICAN webinar series during the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10.

ABOUT

Dr Bulabula will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Training support for an IPC programme. Developing an IPC programme in the DRC during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Presenting on the ECHO programmes across Africa during the IPC Collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Infection Prevention and Control program implementation in low resource settings: lessons learned from Mbandaka, DR Congo during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Mehtar will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 23 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h00 CAT.
Presenting on Building a national IPC programme during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Presenting on the Impact of vaccines on HCW outcomes during the Healthchare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
Presenting on “What shall I wear today?” Clarifying the message and guidance during the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Benedetta Allegranzi is an infectious diseases specialist, with Diplomas in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (University of Liverpool, UK) and Clinical Research (University of Geneva, Switzerland). From 1994 to 2006, she worked as infectious diseases and infection prevention and control (IPC) specialist and assistant professor at the University of Verona, Italy, as well as in Burundi, Malaysia and some other countries.

She now works at the World Health Organization (WHO) HQ since 2006, as the technical lead of the IPC Hub and the IPC Taskforce and co-lead of the IPC pillar of the WHO response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Benedetta Allegranzi is also Adjoint Professor at the Global Health Institute and at the Infection Control Programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva.
With her team, she has provided technical support to many countries in all continents and has led the development of many new global IPC guidelines and implementation strategies and tools, and two global campaigns on injection safety and hand hygiene (in 182 countries).
She is leading or senior author of 65 WHO official publications, and author or co-author of over 200 scientific publications, and more than 20 book chapters.”

Prof Allegranzi will be presenting on The core competencies for IPC professionals during the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The presentation will provide evidence about need for strengthening training in infection prevention and control (IPC), based on data collected by WHO in several global surveys and assessments. It will also make an overview of the competencies and skills required to play the role of IPC professional based on a WHO expert-consensus document published in 2020.

ABOUT

Prof Ogunsola will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Delivering the welcome address during the congress’ opening ceremony on 23 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID-19 in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on PHC and COVID: The ICAN/Resolve Project during the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Developing IPC training programmes for Africa – the ICAN experience during the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 24 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 25 November 2021 from 14h00 – 14h30 CAT.
Delivering the closing address during the congress’ closing and awards ceremony on 25 November 2021 from 17h40 – 18h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Getachew Kassa is a senior technical advisor and IPC lead in clinical and training unit of ICAP at Columbia University. He is a public health specialist and IPC expert who has been engaged in various health program management, global health security, and workforce development programs in various countries. He provided many capacity-building trainings and led project implementation mainly on quality management and IPC program, Antimicrobial Resistance and outbreak management, and One Health projects. Currently, he is the East Africa IPC Learning Network project director and leading other IPC projects.

Dr Kassa will be presenting on Building a training network – the role of partners in Africa during the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

ICAP at Columbia (ICAP) partnered with CDC launched a regional learning network enhance IPC at scale. The learning work include 4 East African Countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) to build a community of practice among IPC teams that leads to sustained use of effective IPC practices and improved learning. The IPC learning network used various strategies to build capacity of IPC community on COVID-19-related IPC and ,supportive supervision for IPC quality improvement (QI) projects. It also connected IPC Focal Points across hospitals and countries to work together to address IPC implementation challenges and to exchange best practices, resources, and tools. Strategies used, progress, successes and challenges will be presented.

ABOUT

Robert Mussa Njee is MSc. Graduate in Toxicology and Environmental Health from Utrecht University. His expertise is on physical, chemical, and microbiological risk assessment, epidemiology, risk management, and human disease prevention. Having worked as a policy practitioner, Mr. Njee is currently pursuing research science career addressing water sanitation and hygiene, air pollution, and is passionate about healthcare environment and infection control. He is an ICAN board member. His current research focus in IPC is on breaking transmission chain in health care environment through environmental cleaning and hygiene.

Mr Njee will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the A broader perspective on IPC and airborne infections session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Chairing the Scientific presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Briëtte du Toit (B.Cur, PGDIPC, MSc.IPC ) is currently working for ICAN (Infection Control Africa Network) as the Programme Manager & Training Coordinator.

Briëtte has a Post Graduate Diploma and Masters degree in IPC and has completed a certificate course at Harvard University in Airborne Infection Control.

Mrs du Toit will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on the Experience from the private sector during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Presenting on a Short introduction on the routes of transmission and specifically airborne transmission/Importance of triage and screening/ventilation during the A broader perspective on IPC and airborne infections session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Luca Fontana is an environmental toxicologist, epidemiologist working on health logistic, WASH and infection prevention and control at the WHO. Since 2014 he contributed to all major ebola outbreaks preparedness and responses in African countries. His main expertise is the design and management of infectious disease treatment centers. He led and contributed to several WHO works on environment and engineering control measures related to infectious diseases including design and indoor ventilation as risk reduction measures. One of his main areas of work is the strengthening of a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to infectious diseases emergency preparedness and responses.

Mr Fontana will be presenting on the Roadmap to ventilation – step by step approach to improve (WHO) during the A broader persective on IPC and airborne infections session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The risk of getting COVID-19 is higher in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected people spend long periods of time together in close proximity. These environments are where the virus appears to spread by respiratory droplets or aerosols more efficiently, so taking precautions is even more important.

Understanding and controlling building ventilation can improve the quality of the air we breathe and reduce the risk of indoor health concerns including prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from spreading indoors.

The World Health Organization developed and published a roadmap on how to improve ventilation in indoor spaces. The roadmap is divided into three settings – health care, non- residential and residential spaces – and takes into account different ventilation systems (mechanical or natural). The roadmap is aimed at health care facility managers, building managers, as well as those members of the general public who are providing home care or home quarantine.

ABOUT

Tobias van Reenen graduated from Pretoria Technikon in 1998 with a N.Dip. Engineering: Mechanical Engineering. He is currently a Senior Researcher at CSIR (2010 – present). Prior to that he was Principal Associate at DHV (2001-2010).

His professional highlights include:

Developed the South African Building Energy Reference Map used by National Building Regulations (NBR) through the SANS 10400-XA (Ed2) compulsory specification
Nominated Convener SABS TC60 WG15 (Lighting and Ventilation Standard for National Building Regulations)
Nominated Convener, Principal author- SABS TC60 Working Group 15- SANS 10400-O – Lighting and Ventilation; Ed2
Consulting Engineers of South Africa (CESA) award (2016) for the design of Mintek ISO 3 cleanroom
2021: Technical Committee Member R1390 RHBA-OHSA (Hazardous Biological Agents)
Expert Committee member for the 2021 review of the National Building Regulations XA2 (Hot Water Generation)
Contributed National Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccine Facilities (2021)
Development of TB and COVID-19 Airborne-Transmission-Risk remote sensing solution with web-portal
2020: Invited Expert Contributor, ASHRAE GPC37 UVGI Guidelines development

His personal highlights include:

Completing 2x Cape Epic MTB tours
Completing 2x Joburg2C MTB tours
Completing the Joburg 94.7 Cycle Tour on a 36” unicycle

Mr Van Reenen will be presenting on the Limits of ventilation for airborne infection control (in terms of feasibility) during the A broader persective on IPC and airborne infections session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Context: With COVID-19 being recognized as an airborne disease, appropriate infection control strategies are essential. COVID-19 is understood to be both droplet and airborne spread; however, the relative risk of each remains unknown. Ventilation is more effective against long-range airborne transmission than against shorter-range droplet transmission. In this context, it is important to determine how much ventilation is required to offer a minimum of protection per scenario.

Method: A CFD model is used to demonstrate the difference in individual and congregate-level risk of airborne transmission
Using a far-field probability of infection model, we calculate the ventilation rate required to achieve an R0e of less than one.

Findings: Droplet transmission holds the greater personal risk; however, airborne transmission can account for significant indoor community transmission rates.
The ventilation rate required to reduce airborne transmission to acceptable levels is unfeasible with extended exposure. Including community prevalence levels in the model does not offer sufficient personal protection in real-world scenarios.

Recommendations: CO2 monitoring is a well-established method to determine ventilation sufficiency in occupied spaces. It is however critical that unique CO2 limits are established per application, as operational and occupancy variables such as building type, occupancy rates and exposure times can greatly affect these limits.

SPEAKERS - DAY 2 (24 November 2021)

ABOUT

Dr Hopman will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Establishing IPC programmes in an emergency situation during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The built environment and AMR session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Lindsay Denny is an expert on WASH in healthcare facilities, having worked with and consulted for institutions including Emory University, Global Water 2020, UNICEF, and WHO. Lindsay spent five years in Cambodia working first with a grassroots health and nutrition NGO and then as the manager for Emory University’s Safe Water in Hospitals program, through the Center for Global Safe WASH. She has developed assessment and monitoring tools, created trainings for healthcare workers and cleaners, conducted research on WASH in healthcare settings, and advocated for the improvements of WASH in healthcare facilities at the national and global level. Currently, she serves as the Secretariat for the WASH in Healthcare Facilities Global Taskforce. Lindsay graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in Physiology & Neuroscience and has a Master of Public Health from Boston University, with a focus on Global Health.

Ms Denny will be presenting on AMR/WASH issue during The built environment and AMR session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), particularly in the healthcare setting, are necessary in order to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is critical that infection prevention and control experts partner with the WASH sector to develop collaborative action plans and focus on not only addressing the current public health crisis but that which awaits us if we do not focus energy on AMR. This presentation will discuss the linkages to WASH and AMR, particularly within the healthcare facility, and present the tools and practical steps which can be applied throughout the health system to ensure that together WASH and IPC are united in combatting AMR.

ABOUT

Dr Kalisvar Marimuthu is currently a senior consultant in Infectious Diseases at National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore. He is the director of the infection prevention and control office of Woodlands Health Campus (WHC) and he leads the HAI surveillance unit at NCID. As part of the HMDP program, Dr Marimuthu trained at the Infection Prevention and control office of the University of Geneva. Currently, he serves as a member of the National Infection Prevention and Control Committee (NIPC) of Singapore. He is also a member of the WHO Health Emergency Program (WHE) Ad-Hoc advisory panel of IPC for COVID-19 (WHE-IPC-AP). Dr Marimuthu’s main research interest is in the transmission dynamics of multidrug-resistant organisms and the application of next generation sequencing in infection prevention and control.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Dr Marimuthu and his team from NCID also worked on the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and the impact of the epidemic on antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections.

Dr Marimuthu will be presenting on Advance IPC – hospital microbiome during The built environment and AMR session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

In this session, Dr Marimuthu will be sharing his research work on the diversity of hospital microbiome, its impact on infection prevention and control, and the need for future research.

ABOUT

Dr Jako Nice is senior researcher and professional architect at the CSIR. Dr Nice specialises in healthcare infrastructure and healthy building design, architecture and engineering approaches to infection control for surface and airborne contagion in the built environment. He holds a doctorate degree in architecture on the microbiology of the built environment, investigating microbiomes and architecture through applied spatial analytics aimed at reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAI).

Dr Nice will be presenting on Improving the built environment in African health facilities during The built environment and AMR session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Buildings and Health. The impact of the built environment on user health and the IPC in the era of COVID, TB and emerging diseases (airborne and surface).

ABOUT

Alethea Mashamba is a seasoned nurse practitioner and manager with more than 40 years of demonstrated clinical and public health experience and a wealth of experience in the health sector; locally, regionally and internationally. Ms Mashamba has been working in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for the past 10 years supporting the Ministry of Health and Childcare in developing the IPC programme in Zimbabwe from; Policy Development, Training, Mentorship and Heath Systems Strengthening. Alethea currently works as Project Director for the Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) Projects in Zimbabwe and is part of the National COVID-19 Response Team in Infection Prevention and Control in Zimbabwe and has been involved in COVID-19 response and preparedness activities since the start of the pandemic in Zimbabwe in March 2000 to date. Her role includes supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in building the capacity of Health Care Workers with appropriate knowledge and skills for future outbreak preparedness.

Ms Mashamba will be chairing two sessions during the congress, including:

The Healthcare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
The Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Amy Elizabeth (E-beth) Barrera-Cancedda received her Bachelor of Science and Master in Public Health from Emory University, where she studied Anthropology and Global Health, particularly infectious diseases. During the EVD epidemic in West Africa, E-beth was the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation for Partners In Health in Sierra Leone, where she was responsible for collecting clinical data on patient outcomes and ensuring all infection prevention and control measures were established at HCFs. Afterward, she completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing. In 2021, she joined the RTSL HCW team and focuses on IPC for HCW and patient safety in SSA.

Dr Barrera-Cancedda will be presenting on Mitigating risks in a pandemic during the Healthcare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are significant and disproportionately infected and affected during epidemics and pandemics. Yet, mechanisms to prevent and reduce the impact of these public health emergencies on HCWs are known and require further investment and implementation. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a risk mitigation approach that can be utilized via different risk mitigation strategies, otherwise known as implementation strategies, to ensure HCW and patient safety both during public health emergencies and during routine healthcare service delivery. Specific implementation strategies, like increased financial investments, policy development, and training and mentorships are just a few of the strategies needed to support a culture of IPC in the African region—to ensure that HCWs are protected from the effects of future epidemics/pandemics.

ABOUT

Prof Babacar Ndoye graduated in microbiology at the Pasteur Institute of Paris, then in army hospitals in France, and Pharo Institute in Marseille. He has then graduated in Epidemiology at the Swiss Tropical Institute in Basel and also completed an Audit Expertise course in Hospital Hygiene at the Pasteur Institute in Lille, France.
For a long time, he led one of the first IPC programs set up in Africa, that of Senegal. He has carried out numerous missions for WHO, as IPC/AMR expert. He is currently working as an IPC consultant for the WHO Africa regional office as part of the response to Covid-19.

Prof Ndoye will be presenting on Building a sustainable support system for HCW during the Healthcare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The current Covid-19 pandemic has confirmed the weakness, or even the non-existence, of a system for monitoring and preventing occupational infections among health personnel. These staff are paying a heavy price, when there is neither reliable data on the factors favoring infections, nor an effective prevention program.

The author proposes to take advantage of the opportunity of the pandemic to formally and gradually set up a national personnel protection program. This program will first be directed against SARS-Cov 2 infection, but must target all occupational, endemic (HIV, HBV, HCV, Tuberculosis, etc.) and epidemic (Ebola, influenza, etc.) infections. It will then be gradually extended to other occupational risks.

ABOUT

Prof Mehtar will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 23 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h00 CAT.
Presenting on Building a national IPC programme during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Presenting on the Impact of vaccines on HCW outcomes during the Healthchare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
Presenting on “What shall I wear today?” Clarifying the message and guidance during the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Olayinka will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Rethinking HAI definitions for Africa during the Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT where she will consider the challenges faced by African nations in the adaptation of case definitions.
Chairing the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on Cholera: HAI and community acquired during the Trends in HAIs session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT where she will consider the application of IPC in the control of predictable epidemic prone diseases on the African continent.

ABOUT

Fred Tusabe is a WASH/IPC Project Officer at the Infectious Diseases Institute. He is the WASH subject matter Technical Officer at the Global Health security Department of the institute.

He has the following qualifications:

Advanced certificate of Leadership and Management in Global Health, Washington University, 2020.
BSc., Mbarara University of Science and Technology, 2019, Medical Laboratory Sciences
Dip., Jinja Lab School, 2015, Medical Laboratory Technology.

His areas of interest include IPC, safe water sanitation and Hygiene, Environmental Microbiology, Epidemiology.

Mr Tusabe will be presenting on Improving access to alcohol-based hand rub in primary health care facilities in Uganda using a district-led approach during the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Fred Tusabe¹ Judith Nanyondo¹ Matthew Lozier², Maureen Kesande¹, Olive Tumuhairwe³, Martin Watsisi⁴, Fred Twinomugisha¹, Julius Mutoro⁵, Mohammed Lamorde¹, David Berendes²

¹Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | ²Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | ³Kabarole District Health Office, Kabarole District Local Government, Fort Portal, Uganda | ⁴International Water & Sanitation Centre – WASH (IRC-WASH), Fort Portal, Uganda | ⁵Kasese District Health Office, Kasese District Local Government, Uganda

Introduction: Hand hygiene using Alcohol-Based Hand Rub (ABHR) is an effective measure to mitigate outbreaks. However, ABHR availability in low- and middle-income countries is limited by cost.

Objective: To improve access to ABHR in healthcare facilities (HCFs) using a district-led approach for local production and distribution.

Methods: Partner organizations (IDI, IRC-WASH) worked with District Local Governments of Kasese and Kabarole to identify and upgrade production and storage sites secured, well ventilated plus installation of air conditioning systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) protocol for production of ABHR was followed. Districts selected volunteers who were subsequently trained on local production of ABHR. ABHR product quality was assessed internally by the production officer and externally by a trained district health inspector prior to distribution. The final ABHR product was distributed to HCFs in the two districts. Monitoring of consumption was performed using district stock cards. We assessed ABHR production and HCF demand between March and December 2020, the first 9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.

Results: The Kasese unit supported all 127 HCFs in the district with ABHR supply (100%). Majority of the HCFs were smaller facilities or Level II, n=85; HCF III, n=35; HCF IV, n=4 and hospitals n=3). District production addressed 69% of HCFs demand for ABHR (7,120L/10,380L) in Kasese. In Kabarole district, 31 out of 55 facilities were targeted for intervention. Of these, 28 were Level II and III, 2 HC IV and one hospital. Prioritized HCFs received ABHR meeting 76% of facility needs 2,800 L/ 3,680 L. When all 55 district facilities are included, 37% of total facility demand was met by the intervention. Average monthly ABHR consumption was 3L in HCF II, 10L in HCF III, 40L in HCF IV and 60L in hospitals. Internal quality control (IQC) test results closely matched external quality control (EQC) results from 248 batches produced. Average IQC alcohol concentration was 80% (range, 79% to 81%) and EQC was 79.8% (range78.5% to 80.5%).

Conclusion: Centralized and district-led production of ABHR enables the primary healthcare facilities within districts to have regular access to quality-assured ABHR. Low and middle-income countries may consider district models to expand ABHR production and improve supply to smaller HCFs.

ABOUT

Benedicta Boamah has a passionate resilience for her work as an emergency nurse from previous certified advanced cardiovascular life support training schedules. I unearth the eagerness to widen my scope in all aspects of working as a Nursing Officer based on my designation. I’m still the fourth & last child of my biological parents who is currently a Ghanaian but was born in South Africa. I have creative writing skills for poetry & a blog for poetry prose, anthology, monoku’s & novels with tales from the past! My career pursuits in global trainings started when I got the opportunity to study doctorate in Public Health at Walden University, Minneapolis in 2016 & I’m yet to complete the quarterly based PhD in Public Health soon. I currently have an entrepreneurial view in business avenues & a partner organisation which trains many health workers on CPR, ACLS, BBP & PALS guided by AHA.

Ms Boamah will be presenting on A SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system in Sub-Saharan Africa: modeling study for persistence and transmission to inform policy during the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Lori Ann Post¹, PhD; Salem T Argaw², BA; Cameron Jones³, MPH, MD; Charles B Moss⁴, PhD; Danielle Resnick⁵, PhD; Lauren Nadya Singh¹, MPH; Robert Leo Murphy⁶, MD; Chad J Achenbach³, MD; Janine White¹, MSc; Tariq Ziad Issa², BA; Michael J Boctor², BSc; James Francis Oehmke¹, PhD, Benedicta Boamah⁷Bsc;ERNurse;ICAN Presenter & Proof-reader

¹Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics and Departments of Emergency Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL | ²Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States | ³Division of Infectious Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States | ⁴Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States | ⁵International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States | ⁶Institute for Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States | ⁷ICAN Presenter & Proof Reader, Emergency Nurse,Nursing Officer & Upcoming PhD holder in Public Health, Walden University Minneapolis

Background: Since the novel coronavirus emerged in late 2019, the scientific and public health community around the world have sought to better understand, surveil, treat, and prevent the disease, COVID-19. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), many countries responded aggressively and decisively with lockdown measures and border closures. Such actions may have helped prevent large outbreaks throughout much of the region, though there is substantial variation in caseloads and mortality between nations. Additionally, the health system infrastructure remains a concern throughout much of SSA, and the lockdown measures threaten to increase poverty and food insecurity for the subcontinent’s poorest residents. The lack of sufficient testing, asymptomatic infections, and poor reporting practices in many countries limit our understanding of the virus’s impact, creating a need for better and more accurate surveillance metrics that account for underreporting and data contamination.

Objective: The goal of this study is to improve infectious disease surveillance by complementing standardized metrics with new and decomposable surveillance metrics of COVID-19 that overcome data limitations and contamination inherent in public health surveillance systems. In addition to prevalence of observed daily and cumulative testing, testing positivity rates, morbidity, and mortality, we derived COVID-19 transmission in terms of speed, acceleration or deceleration, change in acceleration or deceleration (jerk), and 7-day transmission rate persistence, which explains where and how rapidly COVID-19 is transmitting and quantifies shifts in the rate of acceleration or deceleration to inform policies to mitigate and prevent COVID-19 and food insecurity in SSA.

Methods: We extracted 60 days of COVID-19 data from public health registries and employed an empirical difference equation to measure daily case numbers in 47 sub-Saharan countries as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R. Results: Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa have the most observed cases of COVID-19, and the Seychelles, Eritrea, Mauritius, Comoros, and Burundi have the fewest. In contrast, the speed, acceleration, jerk, and 7-day persistence indicate rates of COVID-19 transmissions differ from observed cases. In September 2020, Cape Verde, Eswatini and South Africa had the highest speed of COVID-19 transmissions at 13.1, 7.1, 3.6, and 3 infections per 100,0000, respectively; Zimbabwe had an acceleration rate of transmission, while Zambia had the largest rate of deceleration this week compared to last week, referred to as a jerk. Finally, the 7-day persistence rate indicates the number of cases on September 15, 2020, which are a function of new infections from September 8, 2020, decreased in South Africa from 216.7 to 173.2 and Ethiopia from 136.7 to 106.3 per 100,000. The statistical approach was validated based on the regression results; they determined recent changes in the pattern of infection, and during the weeks of September 1-8 and September 9-15, there were substantial country differences in the evolution of the SSA pandemic. This change represents a decrease in the transmission model R value for that week and is consistent with a de-escalation in the pandemic for the sub-Saharan African continent in general.

Conclusions: Standard surveillance metrics such as daily observed new COVID-19 cases or deaths are necessary but insufficient to mitigate and prevent COVID-19 transmission. Public health leaders also need to know where COVID-19 transmission rates are accelerating or decelerating, whether those rates increase or decrease over short time frames because the pandemic can quickly escalate, and how many cases today are a function of new infections 7 days ago. Even though SSA is home to some of the poorest countries in the world, development and population size are not necessarily predictive of COVID-19 transmission, meaning higher income countries like the United States can learn from African countries on how best to implement mitigation and prevention efforts.

ABOUT

Prof Mnif will be chairing two sessions during the congress, including:

The Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
The Scientific presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Molebogeng Kolojane is a clinical microbiologist who works as an outreach pathologist in the West Rand District hospitals. Her special interests are in Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and Public Health. She is based at the Infection Control Services Laboratory (ICSL) at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has a keen interest in infection prevention and control (IPC), outbreak investigation, and establishing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs in outreach health care facilities. She’s also involved in assisting and supporting district hospitals to obtain and maintain accreditation.

Dr Kolojane will be presenting on An outbreak investigation and Infection Prevention and Control of Candida auris in the neonatal unit at a regional level hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 2019 – June 2020 during the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Molebogeng C Kolojane¹, Ruth Mpembe², Mabatho Mhlanga², Liliwe Shuping²

Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa;
The Centre for Healthcare-Associated infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM), National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Johannesburg, South Africa

Background: An outbreak of Candida auris in a neonatal ward of a regional hospital was reported to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The facility is a level 2 public-sector hospital in Johannesburg, Gauteng province and serves surrounding district hospitals and clinics for referrals. It has 855 in-patient beds, including 157 for paediatrics. The hospital has a specialized neonatal unit with a general neonatal ward and neonatal intensive care unit (ICU). Infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations at this unit were not optimally followed. Major challenges included overcrowding, fewer than recommended hand washing facilities, sub-optimal cleaning and decontamination, and sharing of equipment as well as misidentification of isolates.

Methods: During the investigation, a historic analysis of laboratory data was done in order to determine the incidence risk of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infections (BSIs) including C. auris. We conducted an analysis of laboratory data between January 2019 and June 2020. Laboratory data were retrieved from the NICD Surveillance Data Warehouse and the National Health Laboratory Service. We defined a case as an admitted infant with C. auris (and other pathogens) cultured from blood. Some Candida isolates were sent to the NICD for confirmatory testing. An IPC audit was conducted during June 2020 using the National Department of Health Infection Control Assessment Tool (ICAT) and an in-house observational tool for hand hygiene and environmental hygiene.

Results: We identified 50 cases of C. auris with an overall incidence risk of 3 cases per 100 admissions (range 0–6.5). The outbreak began during April 2019 with 2 cases, then subsequent clusters occurred during September–October 2019, December 2019–January 2020 and May–June 2020. Nine isolates were initially identified as Candida famata or Candida duobushaemulonii and 8 were later confirmed as C. auris. The case fatality ratio for C. auris was 3.7% (1/27). IPC recommendations were not optimally followed for a majority of the assessed modules (50-75% scores, rating of B).

Conclusions: The incidence of C. auris in the neonatal ward was high and the IPC audit was able to identify several gaps that promote transmission of microorganisms. Recommendations made included immediate isolation / cohorting of infants diagnosed with C. auris, review and modification of cleaning and decontamination procedures according to current National Department of Health IPC guidelines, and cleaning and decontamination of shared equipment between each use. The hospital management in the facility and other facilities should ensure implementation of all IPC audit recommendations and provide resources needed for compliance whenever possible.

ABOUT

Dr Mohammed Manga is a Clinical Microbiologist with an MBBS degree and postgraduate medical fellowships of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Pathology; Medical Microbiology (FMCPath) and the West African College of Physicians in Laboratory Medicine; Medical Microbiology (FWACP). He works as a Reader/Consultant Clinical Microbiologist with the Gombe State University and Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe Nigeria. His areas of research interest include Sexually Transmitted Infections, Infection Prevention/Control and patient safety/healthcare quality improvement. Also developing interest in One health concept and Clinical Education as important tools in improving healthcare quality especially in developing countries/low resource settings.

Dr Manga will be presenting on Mortality linked to Healthcare Associated Infections as advocacy tool and indicator of the role of surveillance in Infection Prevention and Control for improved healthcare quality and patient safety during the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Mohammed M Manga¹,Mohammed Ibrahim¹, Umar M Hassan², Ronah H Joseph², Muhammad A Saddiq², Gidado Muhammad², Amina Mohammed³

¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Gombe State University/Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria | ²Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe. Nigeria | ³Department of Community Medicine, Gombe State University/Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria.

Background and objectives: Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) have been used to assess/measure the quality of healthcare in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Mortality due to HCAIs is very common and could be used as a tool to advocate for better quality healthcare through improved Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) activities and programmes. We present a four-year review of mortalities linked to HCAIs in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG) Nigeria.

Methods: This is a hospital based cross-sectional study in which data from routine surveillance of HCAIs performed by the IPC team of FTHG was analysed. The surveillance was laboratory based and only in-patients with microbiological culture results were included. We reviewed and analysed a total of 30,053 patients over a period of four years spanning through 2017 to 2020.

Results: Of the total number of patients reviewed 1,509 had HCAIs giving an overall prevalence of 5.0% (4.1-5.7) over the four-year period. Among the patients who acquired HCAIs, 85 died while on admission giving a mortality rate of 5.6% (2.8-7.2).

Conclusion: Mortality linked to HCAIs is common and could be used as tool for advocacy and health education on the importance of surveillance in IPC especially in developing countries like Nigeria where patient safety and quality of healthcare is still suboptimum.

ABOUT

Dr Bulabula will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Training support for an IPC programme. Developing an IPC programme in the DRC during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Presenting on the ECHO programmes across Africa during the IPC Collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Infection Prevention and Control program implementation in low resource settings: lessons learned from Mbandaka, DR Congo during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Iman Heweidy is a fellow of clinical & chemical pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo Egypt. She has been a microbiology and IPC Consultant since 2004 with extensive experience in IPC both at the national and regional levels as she shared in supporting IPC program and guideline in several countries including Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, Jordan and Tunisia.

Dr Heweidy will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting with Prof Nagwa Khamis on Advocacy, infographics and infodemics – harnessing social media better during the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Nagwa Khamis career highlights include the following:

Prof Clinical Pathology (Microbiology), ASU
Consultant IPC and immediate ex-Head of IPC Unit ASUSH
Head of IPC Department and CEO Consultant CCHE-57357
Board Member and immediate ex-secretary of IFIC
President of SPIC-Egypt
WHO Consultant for Ebola prevention, 2014-2015
IAEA Expert for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, 2017
SHEA Ambassador for EMRO, 2017
Certified freelance consultant Infodemic Management WHO, 2020 and coaching the french version of the second batch, June 2021
Visitor Doctor in many of CHU in France: Pitié Salpêtrière, Saint-Louis, Bicêtre, Hôpital Européen Georges, Pompidou, Amiens
Temporary adviser WHO, 2012
Participating in the foundation of first Infection Control Unit at ASUSH, Cairo- Egypt, 1989
Supporting the foundation of many IPC systems and Teams in Egypt

Prof Khamis will be presenting with Dr Iman Heweidy on Advocacy, infographics and infodemics – harnessing social media better during the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Infodemicity is the overwhelming of information not necessarily misinformation or rumors. The pandemic of COVID-19 had opened the door widely for a status of infodemicity, around the globe, which hadn’t stop yet! Starting early in 2020 through 2021, so far, we suffer on daily basis from wrong information, misinformation and rumors in addition to mega-information about so many details related to vaccination which had disturbed populations rather than reassuring them. For this, we will present three phases of facing such situation with the three “S”: Stress- Struggling- Success.

ABOUT

He is a current member of several IPC and professional associations including:

Infection Prevention and Control Association of Cameroon
Infection Control African Network (ICAN)
Infection Prevention and Control Association (IPAC) of Canada
Association of Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
Society for Health Care Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
Cameroon Bioethics Association (CAMBIN)
Cameroon Nurses Association (CNA)

Mr Gobte will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Advocacy for IPC programmes – the way forward during the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Participating in the panel discussion during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Mrs Anna Maruta is an experienced nurse with more than 25 years of demonstrated clinical and public health experience. Anna possesses significant pre- and in-service training/capacity building in Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance. Currently, Anna works as IPC and AMR lead with WHO Sierra Leone Country Office. Anna is also board member of the Infection Control Africa Network member of Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe.

Mrs Maruta will be chairing the Trends in HAIs session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Rita Oladele [MBBS, FMCPath (Nigeria), Phd (Manchester), FECMM] is a Clinical Microbilogist and Head of the Department of Medical Microbilogy, Lagos University Teaching Hoapital. She is also the President of the Medical Mycology Society of Nigeria and Co-Chair of the Pan-Africa Mycology Working Group. Her career highlights includes:

Single handedly driven education on suspicion and diagnosis in the at risk groups in Nigeria, by hosting forums for training multidisciplinary clinicians and scientists
Made the first estimates of serious fungal infections in Nigeria.
Co-authored 3, Clinical international oneHealth, Guidelines – Mucormycosis (2020), Aspergillosis in covid-19 (2021) and the world’s first for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (for LMICs, 2018).
Trained over 850 health care workers in Nigeria on diagnosis and management of cryptococcal meningitis.
African Coordinator, expert committee writing global cryptococcal meningitis guidelines (ECMM & ISHAM) 2020.
Member, WHO expert advisory board for priority fungal pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Oladele will be presenting on Fungal infections during the Trends in HAIs session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Fungal infections, challenges with diagnosis and management; How to get things going in LMICs.

Currently, more than five times more people live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high-income countries. The covid-19 pandemic and its fallout have laid bare deep-seated social and economic inequalities with marginalised groups being at greater risk of infection and being disproportionately affected by containment measures and their socioeconomic consequences. Most LMICs are burdened with marked by social and health inequalities, with poorly funded and overburdened health systems. Furthermore, approximately 50% of fungal related deaths in the setting of HIV infections occur in Africa.

Way forward:

United efforts are mandatory to face the growing challenges in medical mycology – GAFFI, ISHAM, ECMM and CDC already started but more needs to be done.
Input from African CDC is crucial.
Individual country government ‘buy-in” with investments in clinical mycology and diagnostic resources should be advocated for.
Education and training of healthcare providers as well as educating the general public to change the attitudes of people is an another aspect that needs to be concentrate on. Intensive awareness programs for clinicians will drive clinical index of suspicion.
Capacity building including the human resources as well as the laboratory capacity in hospitals.
Medical school curriculum revision to capture mycoses adequately.
Some fungi cannot be routinely grown under lab conditions and culturing is time consuming and requires specialist training; also equipment need electricity, which at best is erratic in most LMICs. Thus, there is a need for diagnostics that can be widely applied by laboratory technicians lacking traditional fungal identification skills and facilities. This must be affordable.
Barriers to accessing antifungal drugs must be addressed, GAFFI contribution to this is noted but more needs to be done; prices and toxicities must be addressed alongside with availability of alternative medications/ treatment options.
Surveillance of serious mycoses is essential to prevent and control infections, to detect outbreaks and also to see the effects of interventions.
Establishing Medical Mycology Societies have been demonstrated to drive awareness.
The role of telemedicine in areas that lack mycologists.
Funding research to address epidemiology and knowledge gaps.

ABOUT

Andrew Whitelaw worked as a consultant microbiologist in the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Groote Schuur Hospital / University of Cape Town from 2003 – 2012, and in December 2012 took up the post of Head of Division of Medical Microbiology at the University of Stellenbosch / NHLS Tygerberg. His early research revolved around molecular characterization of ESBLs in members of the Enterobacteriaceae, and he has been involved in antibiotic resistance and infection control-related research over the last decade, both for community as well as hospital acquired pathogens. He was a member of the South African Antibiotic Stewardship Programme (SAASP), The Infection Control Society of Southern Africa, and serves on the SA Ministerial Advisory Committee on AMR. Ongoing research interests focus on antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus, including molecular characterisation and mechanisms of resistance as well as clinical impact and control of AMR and HAIs.

Prof Whitelaw will be presenting on What can the microbiome and resistome tell us about HAIs? during the Trends in HAIs session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Prof Whitelaw will briefly describe what the microbiome and resistome are, and then present some of the latest research trying to illustrate what investigating and understanding the genomics of human and environmental samples can tell us about HAis. This would include:

Modeling the prevalence of AMR infections from pooled clinical samples.
Defining the contribution of the hospital environment.
Understanding community vs hospital transmission dynamics.
The effects of antibiotic therapy on the microbiome and resistome.

ABOUT

Prof Olayinka will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Rethinking HAI definitions for Africa during the Surveillance of HAI in Africa. Which HAI definitions? session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT where she will consider the challenges faced by African nations in the adaptation of case definitions.
Chairing the Scientific Presentations session on 24 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on Cholera: HAI and community acquired during the Trends in HAIs session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT where she will consider the application of IPC in the control of predictable epidemic prone diseases on the African continent.

ABOUT

Dr Awa Ndir, is currently working in WHO Health Emergency Program at Headquarters and is in the board of directors of ICAN. She has previously been working in the WHO regional office for Africa where she was involved in Infection Prevention and Control in major outbreaks. Before her current duties, Awa has worked for the US CDC country office in Senegal as the focal point for IPC and AMR. After she has served at the national IPC program at the Ministry of Health in Senegal, she has coordinated the BIRDY project, on mother and neonatal infections, at Dakar Institute Pasteur.

Dr Ndir will be chairing the IPC and quality improvement – the next steps session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Mr Amon Njenga holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of London, the United Kingdom, and a Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has over a decade of experience managing designing, implementing, and managing capacity building and quality improvement initiatives. Currently, he works for ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health in Sierra Leone as team lead for special projects and capacity building. As team lead for special projects, he has led several quality improvement projects aimed at optimizing infection prevention and control and maternal health services in Sierra Leone.

Mr Njenga will be presenting on Quality improvement in Africa during the IPC and quality improvement – the next steps session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Jacqui Stewart is the Chief Executive Officer of The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa NPC (COHSASA). She has worked in the public and private health care sectors in South Africa and England. She is passionate about building capacity in improvement in healthcare facilities, especially in low- middle income countries.
Jacqui has a Master of Professional Studies, Health from Middlesex University, London. She was a member of the South African National Lancet Commission on High Quality Health Systems. In 2019 Jacqui was elected to the International Academy of Quality & Safety in Health Care (IAQS). She is an ISQua Expert and serves on the Accreditation Council of the ISQua External Evaluation Association. She served on the ISQua Board from 2017 to 2020.

Ms Stewart will be presenting on the Accreditation of Health Facilities during the IPC and quality improvement – the next steps session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The brief presentation will address the importance of IPC in quality improvement in every healthcare facility, touching on the important lessons learned during the COVID pandemic.

ABOUT

Marina Aucamp is an infection control practitioner at Mowbray Maternity Hospital. The hospital is situated in Cape Town and is the largest dedicated maternity hospital in South Africa. Marina is a professional nurse with 18 years’ experience in infection control. Her qualifications include a Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Control (Stellenbosch University) and an MPhil in Health Sciences Education (Stellenbosch University). She is a member of the Western Cape Infection Control Society (WCICS) and the Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN). She has delivered presentations at several national and international conferences and workshops, including previous ICAN Congresses. She has furthermore made contributions to several publications.

Ms Aucamp will be presenting on Examples from IPC for QI African countries – reduction of neonatal sepsis during the IPC and quality improvement – the next steps session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The brief presentation will provide a framework of quality improvement initiatives that are essential to reduce neonatal sepsis in a healthcare facility.

ABOUT

Dr Wayne Kleintjes is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Head of the Western Cape Provincial Adult Tertiary Burn Centre and President of the South African Burn Association.

Dr Kleintjes will be presenting on Examples from IPC for QI African countries – in the burns unit during the IPC and quality improvement – the next steps session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Mamy Randria is an Infectiologist. He is the Chief of the Unit of Infectiology at the University Hospital of Antananarivo; President of the Malagasy Society of Infectious Diseases; and President of the Malagasy Society of IPC. His interests include: HIV, Malaria and Antibioresistance. He has completed IPC studies and training: in Madagascar and France (Bordeaux , Grenoble).

Prof Randria will be chairing two sessions during the congress, including:

The Environmental cleaning: the controversies and the science session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.
The Scientific presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Molly Patrick is an Environmental Engineer with the International Infection Control Program (IICP) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She began her career at CDC in 2010 working on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in international emergency and post-emergency settings. Ms Patrick joined IICP in 2017, where she is coordinating WASH and environmental infection prevention and control activities. Molly earned her Masters of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her Bachelor of Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science from Dalhousie University and Acadia University in Canada.

Ms Patrick will be presenting on Facts and Myths during the Environmental cleaning: the controversies and the science session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Damilola Adeniyi is a Medical Doctor and Public Health Professional with ten years of experience working with Public, Private and Non-profit health-based organizations. He is an Infection Prevention and Control enthusiast and his competencies include project management and research. He currently serves as the Program Manager for the LUTH Environmental Cleaning Toolkit Pilot Project at the Centre for Infection Control And Patient Safety (CICAPS) College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr Adeniyi will be presenting on Validating the CDC/ICAN environmental toolkit during the Environmental cleaning: the controversies and the science session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

In a sequel to the CDC/ICAN Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Resource-Limited Settings (2019) document, the Cleaning Program Implementation Toolkit was developed. The toolkit sought to provide practical guidance on how to progressively implement cleaning programs according to best practices within a resource-limited context. Although environmental cleaning remains a fundamental infection prevention and control (IPC) intervention, gaps in cleaning processes and programs within low-income resource healthcare settings continue to contribute to the significant burden of Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates. This project describes the implementation of the first pilot of the toolkit within Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in a bid towards achieving cleaning best practices at the facility.

ABOUT

Argaw Ambelu is a Professor of Environmental Health at Jimma University. He has obtained his Ph.D. and MSc degree in Applied Biological Sciences and Environmental Sanitation from Ghent University, and a BSc in Environmental Health from Jimma Institute of Health Sciences (Currently Jimma University). His professional focus areas of service, teaching, and research are Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH); Environmental Sanitation, Environmental Microbiology; Aquatic Ecology; Infection Prevention and Control; Resilience Measurement; and Climate Change and Health. Prof. Argaw is currently Board Chair of the Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association (EEHPA). He is also a member of the Lancet WASH and Health Commission. He has been leading different research projects. He has supervised and co-supervised more than 25 Ph.D. candidates. He has authored and co-authored more than 110 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Prof Ambelu will be presenting on the Challenges of environmental cleaning at PHCs – the Ethiopian experience during the Environmental cleaning: the controversies and the science session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

The presentation is focusing on ‘Challenges of Environmental Cleaning at PHCs – The Ethiopian Experience’. It highlights the scientific backgrounds about environmental cleaning, its importance at PHC facilities, major challenges of implementation in low income countries and the Ethiopian experience. Environmental cleaning deals with the organized processes implemented in healthcare facilities for cleaning, disinfecting, and monitoring to tackle the spread of infection. However, proper implementation of environmental cleaning in low income countries, like in Ethiopia, is challenged for many reasons.

SPEAKERS - DAY 3 (25 November 2021)

ABOUT

Angeline Chiotcha a RN/M with a BSc in Nursing obtained from University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing and MSc in Healthcare Sciences. She has a Post-graduate diploma in Operating Theatre Nursing Science and Infection Control Nursing. She is currently working as a Maternal Newborn and Child Health Quality Improvement Officer for South West Zone in Malawi and is the Secretary for the IPC Association in Malawi and a Board Member for ICAN.

Ms Chiotcha will be chairing the Maintaining essential services during emergencies session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Jane Davies is a Registered Nurse, MPH, from Australia and has worked in multiple countries including senior regional roles in Australia and UK in IPC, immunisation and public health. She began working in the field with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in 2017 as IPC Manger in the Syrian emergency response. In 2018, she began as IPC Implementation Advisor at MSF’s Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA). The majority of her time was spent in the field supporting health facilities in South Sudan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Sudan plus providing remote support. Currently Jane is a Clinical Mentor for the pilot of MSF’s new courses in IPC and Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Ms Davies will be presenting on IPC within a humanitarian crisis; Maintaining Essential Services” – from an MSF perspective during the Maintaining essential services during emergencies session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

MSF continues to serve populations around the world during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and with additional unprecedented considerations required on IPC activities in all our healthcare services. Ms Davies will from speak her perspective as IPC Implementation Advisor in Amsterdam HQ during the 2020-2021 response – IPC and maintaining essential health services.

ABOUT

Dr Isaac Boateng will be presenting on WHO essential services in a mumanitarian crisis during the Maintaining essential services during emergencies session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Harunavamwe Chifamba has worked at Harare Central Hospital for 30years, 22 of those as consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist. She has been the Head of Division of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine. In her late forties she decided to train in Clinical Epidemiology, a qualification that has seen her working in the COVID Response. She is very passionate about improving Surgical and Anaesthesia services in Zimbabwe, and has been in the NSOAP team. Her newest role is that of proud grandmother to a bouncing 6 month old girl.

Dr Chifamba will be presenting on Maintaining Essential Services – An Example from Zimbabwe during the Maintaining essential services during emergencies session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

A rapid assessment of essential health services carried out in Zimbabwe by the Case Management Pillar, in October 2020 and subsequent Routine weekly monitoring has noted that essential health services have suffered during the COVID response.

The repeated lockdowns which restricted movement, fear of contracting COVID-19 in the initial stages of the pandemic as a result of inadequate information, human resource constraints, failure to provide integrated outreach services and an already weakened health system have contributed greatly to the drop in essential health service

Routine monitoring has however shown an improvement in 2021 as compared to 2020.

ABOUT

Ms Mashamba will be chairing two sessions during the congress, including:

The Healthcare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
The Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Raphael Chanda is a Clinical Microbiologist with over 10 years-experience working at various levels of the Zambian health care system. Currently working as Senior Policy Advisor for ReAct Africa. His areas of interest include implementation research, with translation of policy into action and capacity building for clinical microbiology laboratories in Africa.

Dr Chanda will be presenting on Antibiotic Prescribing during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

One of the major drivers of antimicrobial resistance is overuse and misuse of antimicrobials. Addressing this at a health facility level needs a systems approach and good, rational prescribing habits are critical. Unfortunately most health institutions lack Standard Treatment Guidelines, suffer chronic shortages of critical antibiotics and have poor infection prevention and control activities. Addressing the fourth strategy in the Global Action Plan begins with building the building blocks of antimicrobial stewardship in collaboration with IPC.

ABOUT

Zama Sibiya is an Infection Prevention and Control Manager at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre. She is a Registered Nurse, with a Degree in Nursing Administration, Education and Occupational Health Nursing Science (Bcur Ed et admin) from the University of Johannesburg. She has done an Advanced IPC Certificate with Mediclinic and is currently doing an International Post graduate diploma in IPC with ICAN and Radboud University.

Zama was involved in mentoring and providing training to HCWs regarding the care of patients with COVID-19.

She co- authored a journal ” Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers’ hand hygiene practice at a private academic hospital in Johannesburg” which was published in the Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine in July 2021.

Ms Sibiya will be presenting on A Multi-modal Hand Hygiene Programme and the Impact of Behaviour Change during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

This presentation will cover the implementation of multimodal strategies to improve hand hygiene practice in health facility and its impact on behavioural change.

ABOUT

Ms Sithole-Mazibuko will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on a A programme within a programme – improving hand hygiene implementation during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT where she will share more on how to improve hand hygiene implementation in low resource settings.
Participating in the panel discussion during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

He is a current member of several IPC and professional associations including:

Infection Prevention and Control Association of Cameroon
Infection Control African Network (ICAN)
Infection Prevention and Control Association (IPAC) of Canada
Association of Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
Society for Health Care Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
Cameroon Bioethics Association (CAMBIN)
Cameroon Nurses Association (CNA)

Mr Gobte will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the IPC collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Advocacy for IPC programmes – the way forward during the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Participating in the panel discussion during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Mary Ashinyo is the Quality Lead for the Ghana Health Service-Ministry of Health. She is responsible for the implementation of the National IPC-WASH Program as National Focal person. Dr. Ashinyo is a Public Health Physician Specialist with interest in infectious diseases , one health, anti-microbial resistance and research in infection prevention and control. She is excited to participate in the 8th ICAN congress, 2021.

Dr Ashinyo will be participating in the panel discussion during the Behaviour change and IPC session on 25 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Mr Njee will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the A broader perspective on IPC and airborne infections session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Chairing the Scientific presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Omotayo Hamzat is a pharmacist with over 20 years of post-qualification experience. His experiences span across Antimicrobial Resistance, Infection Prevention & Control, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) access to medicines & health technologies. He holds a Master in Public Health postgraduate degree from the University of the Western Cape. He is a fellow of the West African Postgraduate college of Pharmacists. He is currently with the WHO Nigeria providing technical assistance to the country on Essential Drugs & Medicines, Health technologies and Antimicrobial Resistance. Tennis, Swimming and reading are his past times when he is not working.

Mr Hamzat will be presenting on Targeted health education programs improve awareness and antimicrobial use behaviour in school-aged children during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Omotayo T. Hamzat¹, Walter L. Fuller², Stephen O. Nurse Findlay³, Aaron O. Aboderin⁴, Niniola Williams⁵ and Abiodun O. Egwuenu⁶

¹Universal Health Coverage/Life Course Cluster, World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria | ²World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo | ³World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland | ⁴Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | ⁵DRASA (DR. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh) Health Trust, Lagos, Nigeria | ⁶Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria

Background and objectives: Inappropriate use of antimicrobials remains principal driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) particularly in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with poor regulatory practices for antimicrobial use (AMU). Effective control of public health threat of AMR depends on coordinated sets of activities that change specific behaviour patterns with regards to AMU. While campaigns and interventions that address threat of AMR are common in high-income countries, such programs are only beginning to emerge in many LMICs. In Lagos state, Nigeria, we conducted a targeted health education intervention among school-age children and measured effect on behaviour including handwashing and hygiene practices, as well as knowledge of antibiotics, AMR and food safety.

Methods: The WHO (Nigeria Country Office, Africa Regional Office and the headquarters) partnered with DRASA Health Trust for an adolescent health education and behaviour change project in Lagos State, Nigeria. September 2018 – March 2019, ten secondary schools were purposively selected from the Health and Hygiene Clubs to implement a Health and Hygiene Curriculum. Desired health behaviours in the pupils were investigated using the COM-B framework. Members of Health and Hygiene Clubs were named Ambassadors, while a random selection of other students (Non-Ambassadors) served as controls. Assessments were made before (baseline) and after (final) the project. Using semi-structured questionnaires, information was obtained on knowledge of hand/personal hygiene, food safety, and AMR, as well as health behaviour including handwashing and health-seeking attendance at facilities. Qualitative data was collected through focus groups, testimonials, and feedback forms, with data analysis in Microsoft Excel^®

Results: Program involved 320 Ambassadors aged 10-22 years (mean 15.12 years), distributed as male (41%) and females (59%), as well as 196 Non-Ambassadors, 9-20 years (mean 15.38 years) with equal male and female distribution. There was a significant (χ2= 17.687, p < 0.001) increase in Ambassadors who always perform handwashing using soap and water at the program ending compared to baseline (56.1% vs 72.1%). Furthermore, there was increase in the number reporting to a healthcare facility when they develop fever (47.1% to 55.7%; p= 0.03, χ2= 4.905). There were increases in knowledge in three domains tested before and end of interventions.

Conclusions: Interventions that target AMU and hygiene behaviour have notable potential of success in school-age children. We recommend educational programmes for behaviour change targeted at school-age children for an understanding of the role of hygiene in prevention of infections and spread of AMR.

ABOUT

Chipo Gwayagwaya is an IPC Specialist Consultant with a background of intensive and coronary care nursing. She has a strong passion for IPC, AMR patient safety. She holds a Masters degree in IPC from Stellenbosch University. She has eleven years of experience working as an IPC practitioner with vast experience in IPC and COVID-19 preparedness and response. She is the secretary of the Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) and the Senior IPC Trainer for the RTSL Project Zimbabwe.

Ms Gwayagwaya will be presenting on the Surveillance of antibiotic prescribing practices and prends of resistance at a private hospital in Zimbabwe during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Chipo S Gwayagwaya¹, Marcelyn T Magwenzi^1,2, Valerie J Robertson¹ and Willem AJ Meintjes³

(1) Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | (2) Department of Health Sciences, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe | (3) Department of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Capetown, South Africa

Background and objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a world-wide burden, characterised by inappropriate prescribing practices, poor surveillance systems and poor laboratory capacity in low-income countries. Antibiotic prescribing practices relate to the way clinicians give antibiotics as treatment of infections. Regular monitoring of prescribing practices is important to keep track of the evolving resistance patterns, raise awareness on antibiotic usage and to create opportunities for antibiotic stewardship programmes. This study was done at a private hospital in Harare to determine prescribing practices and trends in antibiotic resistance.

Methodology:This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in 2016 at a private hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. Antibiotic prescriptions of 220 patients admitted during the six months of the study, were reviewed to evaluate antibiotic prescribing practices. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 50 doctors who admitted patients at this private hospital to determine whether they referred to any guideline when prescribing antibiotics. Laboratory results of blood cultures analysed from 2011-2015 were reviewed to determine the common pathogens isolated and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns.

Results:Out of the 220 patients, 121 (55%)) got more than one antibiotic and 18 (8.2%) got 5 antibiotics. Ceftriaxone was prescribed the most with 125 (56.8 %) patients getting it. All the doctors who responded to the questionnaire 16 (32%), indicated that they did not use national guidelines but referred to other guidelines to prescribe antibiotics. Results of 845 blood cultures were reviewed. Six hundred and sixty-seven (79%) had no growth, 36 (4%) grew contaminants. From the blood cultures that had significant growth (16.8%), antibiotic susceptibility tests were done on 142 isolates. Coagulase negative staphylococci isolates expressed multi-drug resistance with 102 (89.1%) of the isolates showing resistance to Cloxacillin. Other pathogens isolated were Enterococci, Group D Streptococci and Lactose Fermenting Coliforms.

Conclusion: Irrational antibiotic prescribing was common among the doctors at the private hospital in Harare, with antibiotic resistance being high in the blood culture isolates. Development of a surveillance system to monitor prescribing practices and antibiotic resistance patterns in health facilities and reporting of the data in low-income countries like Zimbabwe, will contribute to efforts towards reducing the burden of antibiotic resistance. National antimicrobial resistance surveillance programs will inform the development of a national antibiotic policy and antibiotic stewardship programmes.

ABOUT

Dr Nazlee Samodien is a senior clinical microbiologist at the National Health Laboratory Services at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa as well as a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town, Medical Microbiology Division. She studied medicine at the University of Witwatersrand and specialized in clinical microbiology at the same institute. In addition, she is a recipient of a postgraduate award in Public Health from the University of Liverpool. Her key interests are antimicrobial stewardship; infection prevention and control; design, development and decolonization of medical/science curriculums.

Dr Samodien will be presenting on the Hospital acquired superinfections in patients admitted with severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 at a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Samodien Nazlee ^1,3, Khumalo Amanda ^1,3, Chibabhai Vindana^2,3

(1) Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa | (2) Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | (3) National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa

Background and objectives: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global threat. Most infections that are caused by multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) are hospital acquired. The use of antimicrobials in COVID-19 is not evidence based, yet most patients receive them. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials coupled with inadequate infection prevention and control measures (IPC) during this COVID-19 pandemic may be catastrophic. To our knowledge, there is limited African data that describes the aetiologies and prevalence of superinfections in patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study primarily aimed to address this gap in the research. An outbreak was incidentally detected, suggestive of breakdown of IPC measures.

Methods: A retrospective, observational, laboratory-based study was conducted from 1 May 2020 to 31 August 2021 at Groote Schuur Hospital. A line list of hospitalized Covid-19 positive, adult patients was obtained from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases DatCov database for each participating hospital. Results of all samples submitted for MC&S > 72 hours after admission were included in the analysis of healthcare acquired superinfections (HAS). Results were obtained from the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) Corporate Data Warehouse and the NHLS TrakCare laboratory information system. The NHSN common commensal list was used to determine if an isolate was classified as a commensal or pathogen. Data was deduplicated and analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistics were used.

Results: 240 patients met the criteria for inclusion. Blood culture contamination rates were high (30%). The majority of superinfections stemmed from critical care units (CCUs). Respiratory tract superinfections were most prevalent amongst the systems. The common pathogens detected overall were Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. An outbreak of A. baumannii occurred in 2 critical care wards and the investigation is ongoing. Fungi and Clostridium difficile had negligible roles. An in-depth analysis is still in process but preliminary findings are in keeping with that of international studies which is that HAS in SARS-CoV2 infections are less than 15%. The burden of MDROs is approximately < 7 % and comprise A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae predominantly.

Conclusion: The prevalence of HAS does not seem to justify the amount of antimicrobials being administered to COVID-19 patients. Antimicrobial over usage has well-described repercussions. Antimicrobial stewardship is critical to limit this. Future studies should include clinical information to discriminate colonizers from pathogens. Hospitals are overburdened during this pandemic and IPC measures are not operating optimally to minimize the nosocomial spread of MDROs. Studies to identify the reasons and implement interventions are needed sorely.

ABOUT

Prof Randria will be chairing two sessions during the congress, including:

The Environmental cleaning: the controversies and the science session on 24 November 2021 from 17h10 – 18h10 CAT.
The Scientific presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Bulabula will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting on Training support for an IPC programme. Developing an IPC programme in the DRC during the Setting up an IPC programme (basic IPC) workshop on 22 November 2021 from 10h00 – 13h00 CAT.
Chairing The Conversation Africa workshop entitled Taking your research to the broader public: how to engage in science communication on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Presenting on the ECHO programmes across Africa during the IPC Collaborations in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Infection Prevention and Control program implementation in low resource settings: lessons learned from Mbandaka, DR Congo during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Andre N.H. Bulabula¹, Armand Simisi¹, Sylvain Makutu², Jacqueline Safstrom³, Carmen Hazim³, Jenna Kirschenman⁵, Germain Kazadi⁵, Elizabeth Bancroft³, Sophia S. Miller¹, Serge Kayembe¹, Faustin Malele¹, Maria Lahuerta¹

(1) ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) | (2) Provincial Head of Hygiene, Equateur, DRC | (3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States of America (USA) | (4) ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University, New York, USA | (5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Background and challenges to implementation: Recurring Ebola outbreaks and the emergence of COVID-19 underscore the importance of robust infection prevention and control (IPC) programs. To strengthen IPC capacity, we worked with the provincial team to assess and address gaps in IPC in Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Methods/Activity: In March 2021, the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) conducted a rapid IPC assessment in ten facilities in Mbandaka using the World Health Organisation (WHO) IPC scorecard, which has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health in DRC and had 11 IPC thematic areas. IPC scores of <50% (RED), 50% – 79% (YELLOW) and >79% (GREEN) indicate poor, good/average and robust programs, respectively. Facilities with IPC scores <50%, 50% – 79% and >79%, require a follow up of IPC practices daily, twice a week, and once a week, respectively. ICAP deployed an IPC Clinical Advisor to Mbandaka and two clinical IPC officers to support ten facilities (one day per week in each). Based on the findings, we introduced facility-based and tailored mentorship in IPC, provided IPC supplies and guidance on their rational use as well as supportive supervisions in both French and local language (Lingala). Emphasis was placed on provincial and facility level IPC leadership to take ownership of strengthening IPC programs. In May 2021, we conducted a second assessment using the same tool. Data were captured using a spreadsheet on Microsoft Excel and descriptive analyses were conducted using Stata 16.

Results: IPC scores in March 2021 were <50% in all ten facilities (range 26% – 45%), and the mean score per IPC thematic area was <50% in 8/11 thematic areas assessed. Six out of ten facilities reported between 50-100% of their staff had been trained/briefed in IPC and seven had an IPC focal person. Despite reported high coverage of IPC training, IPC skills were suboptimal. In May 2021, improvements in IPC scores were observed: 9/10 facilities had an IPC score >50% (54% – 67%), while one facility remained at 48%. The mean score per thematic area improved from <50% (range 6.7% – 42.5%) to >50% (range 51.3% – 63.3%) in 4/8 areas that performed poorly in the first assessment.

Conclusions: Leadership, practical skills and supplies were cornerstones of IPC programs implementation in Mbandaka. However, it is possible to successfully implement IPC programs in low-resource settings, by addressing the knowledge-practice gap.

ABOUT

Professor Alemayehu Haddis is an academician and researcher at Jimma University in Ethiopia. He has secured and managed a number of national and international collaborative projects in the areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and in Environmental sustainability. His research interest is in water and wastewater treatment, Health Facility WASH and IPC. Professor Haddis has served Jimma University in various capacities. He has served as president of Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association. He was also coordinator for ICAN-IPC project in Ethiopia. Currently he is working as Director of Research and Publication at Ethiopian Public Health Association and as Honorary Professor at the Addis Continental Institute of Public Health.

Prof Haddis will be presenting on the Capacity building on monitoring and evaluation in IPC/WASH and COVID-19 management at primary healthcare facilities in Ethiopia during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Alemayehu Haddis (1) and Dejene Kumela (2)

(1) Professor, Jimma University and past president of Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association | (2) WASH advisor to SNV and former Vice president of Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are one of the major public health problem worldwide. With the emergence of COVID-19, nations have to struggle to minimize associated impacts. One of the strategies is strict implementation of IPC at health facilities.

Ethiopia has one of the poorest heath structures and suffers from lack of trained workforce for health Cognizant of this fact, the Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association in partnership with ICAN and Ministry of Health implemented a capacity building program for M&E on 52 primary health facilities in Ethiopia. The purpose of this monitoring and evaluation project is to support the country in its effort to fight COVID-19 by introducing M&E on IPC/WASH on 52 PHCUs

Methodology: A total of 52 PHFUs were selected from all regions in Ethiopia, divided into 12 clusters and one Monitor was trained and assigned to make bi-weekly visits. Each facility was also assigned with I IPC focal person. In addition to regular supervision, biweekly and monthly virtual meetings were arranged for feedback and training. All the necessary tools were given in soft and hard copies and reporting was done by entering data on the ICAN dashboard where national coordinators have access to. Progress and problems were identified during supervisions and virtual meetings and feedback was given to partners for follow-up and corrections.

Results: This project enabled 519,589 people to get access to COVID-19 screening and attain improved health service. The spacing and ventilation conditions in the triage area increased from 40 and 50 % to 89 and 92% respectively over 6 months of follow-up. Health facilities were assisted to do the screening consistently throughout the project period. Availability of ABHR increased from 69 – 95% and availability of functional tap water increased from 50% – 89%. Environmental cleaning was also significantly improved. Regular mask use by Health professionals is only 50%. Major gaps identified were lack of IPC materials, low motivation of heath personnel and lack of water sources in most health facilities.

Conclusion and recommendations: In this project, we have learnt that continuous follow-up alone can bring significant change. If this follow-up is integrated with material support, the impact would be much more significant. Staff motivation and training of cleaners is a key issue to address.

Health facilities with existing water supply systems should not be left to be deteriorated at this time of CORONA virus transmission. Resources should be mobilized to supply PPE materials, IPC supplies, WASH facilities and capacity building activities if meaningful support is to be given by partners.

ABOUT

Dr Mobolanle Balogun is a public health physician with research interest in maternal, newborn and child health as well as epidemiology of infectious diseases such as HIV, TB, HPV and COVID-19. She is currently a Year 2 fellow with the FAIMER Philadelphia Institute and a member of the Center for Infection Control and Patient Safety, College of Medicine University of Lagos.

Dr Balogun will be presenting on the Newborn infection prevention and control curriculum development for community health officers in-training in Nigeria: A pilot of video teaching during the Scientific Presentations session on 25 November 2021 from 15h30 – 16h30 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Authors: Mobolanle Balogun¹, Babatunde Akodu¹, Diane Shoemaker², Victoria Yesufu¹, Anthonia Onyenwenyin³, Roseline Udeh⁴, Chinyere Ezeaka⁵, Olayinka Ayankogbe¹, Folasade Ogunsola⁶

¹ Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria | ²Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research, Philadelphia, USA | ³Department of Nursing, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun state, Nigeria | ⁴Community Health Officers’ Training School, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Pakoto, Ogun state, Nigeria | ⁵Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria | ⁶Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria

Background and objectives: Infections are a major contributor to neonatal mortality in Nigeria, accounting for over 26% of newborn deaths. Community health officers (CHOs) provide a range of maternal, newborn and child health services. However, their current training curriculum does not expatiate on newborn infection prevention and control (NB-IPC) and there is little innovation in teaching methods. The study objectives were to develop a curriculum on NB-IPC, assess baseline competence on NB-IPC of students and acceptability of video-based learning (VBL) by the students and video-based teaching (VBT) by their tutors.

Methods: This pilot was conducted in the CHO training school of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, which has 70 students enrolled. We developed a blended curriculum involving video teaching and in-class practical sessions, using the first four steps of the Kern’s model. After content validation, twelve videos were recorded of content experts teaching various aspects of NB-IPC and a study guide was developed. All videos were uploaded unto YouTube and WhatsApp compatible versions were uploaded unto Google drive. To determine baseline competence, we assessed knowledge with an MCQ, attitude with a Likert scale and skills on NB-IPC with an OSCE. Students’ acceptability of VBL was assessed using an adapted framework that integrates Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Technology Acceptance Model as well as two focus group discussions. Tutors’ acceptability of VBT and facilitators/barriers were explored using key informant interviews.

Results: Concerning NB-IPC, mean knowledge score was 10.71 ± 2.25 out of a possible score of 20 (53.55%) and median attitude score was 65 (IQR: 57-70) out of a possible score of 70 (92.86%). The mean OSCE score was 21.28 ± 4.21 out of a possible score of 58.5 (36.38%).

Concerning acceptability of VBL, median score was 162.5 (IQR: 149-171) out of a possible score of 210 (77.38%). From the FGDs and KIIs, students and tutors would like to engage in VBL and VBT and the students prefer for it to be blended with face-to-face teaching. Facilitators for VBL and VBT would be availability of Internet, electricity, suitable device/technology, technical support, and conducive learning environment. The barriers would be the absence of the facilitators.

Conclusion: There were significant gaps in NB-IPC knowledge and skills among students but high acceptability of VBL and VBT among students and tutors. Emphasis during curriculum implementation should be centered on improving knowledge and skills and ensuring easy access to videos by students.

ABOUT

Dr Linus Ndegwa has over 30 years of clinical experience and training healthcare personnel. He leads infection control and AMR activities. Special interest epidemiology of healthcare associated infections and its drivers. Founder and leader of infection prevention Network Kenya (IPNET-K) and Vice-Chair of Global Antibiotic Resistance program (GARP). A board member of international federation of infection control (IFIC), and International Ambassador for SHEA and served as a member of external affairs, SHEA committee. Currently he is leading several AMR &IPC projects in collaboration with MoH. Been speaker in several international meetings. Published several peer reviewed papers and contributed in a number of book chapters, including 2019-Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities in Resource-Limited Settings

Dr Linus Ndegwa will be chairing the Antimicrobial resistance: where are we in Africa session on 25 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Ali Ahmed Yahaya is the Team Lead of AMR Unit in the WHO Regional Office for Africa. He joins WHO since 2007. Prior to his current position, he occupied several managerial and advisor positions in the WHO Regional Office as Programme Area Manager of the Country Health Emergency Preparedness & IHR Unit, Programme Area Coordinator of the Disease Surveillance and Response Unit and Regional Advisor for Laboratory and Containment. He holds a MD degree, MBA in Public Health Management, MSc in Biological Sciences and Medical Laboratory. He also completed four postgraduate diplomas in diabetes, public health, epidemiology and biostatistics.

Dr Yahaya will be presenting on WHO AFRO progress on AMR in the African region during the the Antimicrobial resistance: where are we in Africa session on 25 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Evidence of AMR to the commonly prescribed antimicrobials in the WHO African region calls for urgent and coordinated efforts across all sectors to deal with this urgent threat. The 2021 Tripartite AMR Country Self-Assessment Survey (TrACSS) shows that 85% of the AFRO countries have National Action Plan (NAP) to guide AMR response at local level, in alignment with the Global Action Plan objectives. However, sustained efforts is warranted to strengthen functional multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms, AMR awareness, surveillance systems, Stewardship and IPC/WASH measures including strong political commitment and the prioritization of sustained financing to move NAPs from paper to action.

ABOUT

Dr Alimi will be presenting multiple times during the congress, including:

Presenting on the Response to COVID-19: WHO AFRO overview during the Trials and tribulations in managing COVID in Africa session on 23 November 2021 from 15h00 – 16h00 CAT.
Presenting on Developing a legal framework for Africa: Africa CDC during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Presenting on Africa CDC – AMR overview during the Antimicrobial Resistance: where are we in Africa session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Prof Luc Hervé Samison has been Director of the “Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux” Madagascar since 2011 and Past Dean of the Medical School at the University of Antananarivo. Graduated in 1996 as a Medical Doctor, he specialized in visceral surgery with training at the University of Antananarivo, University Paul Sabatier Toulouse, and University Victor Segalen Bordeaux. He got his diploma of professor agrégé in 2007. In the biological field, he got his Master in Medical Biological Sciences in 2004 with the option biochemistry, bacteriology, and molecular biology. He ran the project on “Strengthening bioethics capacity and justice in health” at CICM Madagascar with the University of North Carolina and the University of Namur from 2014 to 2018. He has been involved in Tricycle Project on AMR since 2018 and in TRIuMPH Project since 2019 as the principal investigator. He is a member of the National Multisectorial Coordination Committee against AMR.

Prof Samison will be presenting on Progress and challenges of a One Health approach to AMR – the tricycle study during the the Antimicrobial resistance: where are we in Africa session on 25 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.

ABSTRACT

Tricycle project launched by the WHO has been conducted in Madagascar thanks to Mérieux Foundation for two years between 2018 and 2020. The comparison between Year 1 and Year 2 results will be the key point of this presentation on AMR detection searching for Escherichia Coli ESBL in three sectors respecting the One Health approach.

ABOUT

Dr Heweidy will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Presenting with Prof Nagwa Khamis on Advocacy, infographics and infodemics – harnessing social media better during the Advocacy for strengthening IPC programmes session on 24 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABOUT

Dr Waheed Ariyo Bakare is an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Expert with more than 10 years’ experience in coordination, emergency preparedness and response. He currently serves as the Africa-CDC IPC focal point for the Southern African region where he is responsible for coordination of IPC activities within the region. He is also a member of the Africa Task Force for Novel Corona virus (AFTCOR) IPC Technical Working Group. He is a graduate of Microbiology from Nigeria, had MSc in Environmental Management from Coventry, University UK, Masters in Public Health – MPH from the University of South Wales, UK and PhD in Environmental and Public Health from Salford University, UK.

He has participated in the development of different IPC assessment tools for both healthcare facilities and communities in Africa and beyond. His team in Africa-CDC has developed several IPC guideline documents, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and many IPC advisories for use across 55 AU Member States. More than 20,000 healthcare workers have been trained in IPC for COVID-19 across Africa by his team within March 2020 and now. Before joining Africa-CDC in March 2020, he worked for African Union to support the “African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA)” and during this time, he won The Time Magazine “Person of the Year” award in 2014 alongside other Ebola responders (http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-ebola-fighters-choice/). He has won other Awards such as the Meritorious Service Award from Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone in 2015, won National Presidential Honour from Dr Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria in 2010. He has also received many commendation letters including the one from the UK Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012.

Dr Bakare will be presenting on the Shortage of PPE – quality and quantity delivery in Africa during the the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.

ABSTRACT

This presentation will focus on the supply chain management of PPE for the COVID-19 response.

ABOUT

Prof Mehtar will be fulfilling multiple roles during the congress, including:

Chairing the Current trends in IPC workshop on 22 November 2021 from 14h00 – 17h00 CAT.
Chairing the keynote address on 23 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h00 CAT.
Presenting on Building a national IPC programme during the A framework for IPC programmes session on 23 November 2021 from 16h10 – 17h10 CAT.
Chairing the IPC education session on 23 November 2021 from 17h15 – 18h30 CAT.
Presenting on the Impact of vaccines on HCW outcomes during the Healthchare worker safety session on 24 November 2021 from 14h30 – 15h30 CAT.
Presenting on “What shall I wear today?” Clarifying the message and guidance during the PPE and the COVID-19 pandemic – addressing the mixed messages session on 25 November 2021 from 16h40 – 17h40 CAT.