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We’ve all had eyes peeled on the multi-car pileup that’s America, but meanwhile, Covid is devastating people with #tuberculosis #HIV and #Malaria. These are big killers — #TB alone kills 1.5 million each year — and the pandemic is setting back decades of progress against them. 1/
Coronavirus outbreaks have diverted testing resources and staff from HIV, TB & malaria; lockdowns have disrupted access to clinical care and medications; and supply chain problems are making — and will continue to make — things worse long term.
What’s unfolding is so horrible that some experts I talked to were nearly in tears. They’re watching as hard-fought gains are being washed away by short-sighted priorities. 3/
According to estimates from @UNAIDS @WHO @StopTB @GlobalFund and others, the pandemic could double deaths from all three diseases. Disruptions to diagnosis will have long-term consequences: Late diagnosis and disrupted treatment means a rise in drug resistance. 4/
I spoke to dozens of people for this story. Experts in public health, but also people who are living the new reality on the ground. In the Before Times, I would have wanted to see for myself what they’re dealing with 5/
But things are bad enough for the misery to come through, loud and clear, even over staticky phone and Skype lines. 6/
It doesn’t have to be this way. There are things governments can do: use diagnostic devices that have been diverted to coronavirus to continue testing for TB; provide months’ worth of HIV meds without people needing to go to a clinic; continue malaria prevention strategies. 7/
What’s happening in America is horrifying, so please read @edyong209's phenomenal piece today. But also spare a few minutes for what’s happening elsewhere in the world. There are lives—literally millions and millions of them—at stake. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/health/coronavirus-tuberculosis-aids-malaria.html
With enormous thanks to @PAlonsoMalaria, @GlobalFund @LucicaDitiu @paimadhu @IntiMuda @CarlosdelRio7 @mdoherty_hiv @TerezaKasaeva and many, many others https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/health/coronavirus-tuberculosis-aids-malaria.html
