Today I #PassTheMic to Dr. Martin Dedicoat to talk to us about #COVID19 & how we can defeat it together. You should listen, he’s an Infectious Diseases Consultant at University Hospitals Birmingham @NHSuk and Volunteer Virtual Doctor with UK charity @VirtualDocProj Take it away!

Thanks, Michael! I’m Dr. Martin Dedicoat. I work in Birmingham, England where we've been hit hard by #COVID19. Our region in the UK has had more patients & deaths than all of South Africa, where I worked fighting tuberculosis. Quite sobering isn't it?

Some #COVID19 patients we see look well, but their lungs aren’t working. When these patients are receiving oxygen, they don’t even realize how unwell they are. We’ve had to deliver almost 4 times our usual amount of oxygen to keep them stable!

We need a global coordinated response to combat COVID-19 because we live in such an interconnected world! Already we’re seeing cases rise in places we thought were under control. Through my volunteer work, I am also seeing suspected cases in Zambia.

One of @VirtualDocProj's aims is to give diagnostic advice, mentorship & a peer community for isolated frontline health workers. For a global response to be successful, we must start by sharing experiences & best practices within the scientific & medical communities.

For example, in Medellin, Colombia, people who have #COVID19 symptoms, but feel well enough to stay home, are given inexpensive oxygen meters. If the meter registers a drop, it triggers a response from a nurse who then delivers oxygen.

We can’t forget about other diseases during this time, though. Before I shifted to #COVID19, I specialized in tuberculosis (TB). Now the worldwide diversion of resources to COVID-19 is predicted to contribute to 1.4M excess deaths from TB.

Many countries have worked incredibly hard on the @WHO’s plan to ‘End TB’ by 2050 and now it might be impossible. We must make sure that services for other diseases like TB are fully funded, supported, and quickly restarted.

An outcome from #COVID19 I’m optimistic about is our ability to connect virtually. More communication means more efficiently improving the way we treat patients & recover. @VirtualDocProj has been successful in supporting #COVID19 preparations in Zambia.
https://bit.ly/383TDV2 

While we’re making progress, our fight against #COVID19 and its impact on our health systems is far from over. Please continue to do your part by social distancing, and demand coordinated global action at https://go.one.org/2BwEuiM  @ONECampaign #PassTheMic #oneworld