Over the summer the Stop TB Canada network conducted a series of surveys to assess how TB programs in Canada have been impacted by COVID-19. The network launched the survey report on Oct 22nd, where we reported back on our main findings and discussed the actions that are necessary to get back on track to ending TB in Canada.
The launch event included many distinguished speakers, including:
Opening address by Dr. Elizabeth Rea (Toronto Public Health)
Presentation on findings by Lena Faust and Alexandra Zimmer (McGill International TB Centre)
Comments on findings by Tina Campbell (Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority), Dr. Richard Long (Department of Medicine, University of Alberta) and others
Discussion on taking forward calls to action facilitated by Dr. Robyn Waite (Results Canada)
Watch the recording here:
The findings of this initiative are devastating - but not surprising given the impact that COVID-19 has had on health systems globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of global progress in tackling tuberculosis and for the first time in over a decade, TB deaths have increased, according to the World Health Organization’s 2021 Global TB report.
Respondents of our survey reported diagnostic delays and individuals presenting with more advanced disease, large-scale diversions of TB staff to COVID-19 work, significant disruptions to active case finding, contact tracing and LTBI management, and declines in quality of TB care during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest alarming setbacks for efforts to end TB in Canada.
See below for a snippet of the report and a compelling quote from a TB staff member on how COVID-19 has impacted their work.
