Pallabi Deb’s Post

We are doing our part in digital health space. Where improvements of quality of care and health system strengthening at national scale is a priority

🌍 World AIDS Day 2024: Take the Rights Path – My Health, My Right! 📉 Today, we join the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day, reaffirming our commitment to advancing health equity and upholding the right to health for all. This year’s theme, "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!", highlights the importance of accessible, equitable healthcare in addressing the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic. At the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at the Yale School of Public Health, we have a proud legacy of impactful HIV research and advocacy. From pioneering the first needle exchange programs in the U.S. to groundbreaking studies on social determinants of health, our work spans prevention, treatment, and care for vulnerable populations worldwide. Through interdisciplinary approaches—including modeling, qualitative research, and implementation science—we continue to tackle the complex challenges of HIV/AIDS. Together with partners across the globe, we are committed to innovation and collaboration in the fight against HIV. #WorldAIDSDay #HIVResearch #PublicHealth Let’s honor the progress made and recognize the work still ahead. Learn more about our department’s initiatives: https://lnkd.in/e5ZmgWag

How Will We End Pediatric HIV? With More Options. Publications often ignore opening session lectures at conferences. For TheBody.com, I summarized Dr. Dorothy M'bori-Ngacha's extraordinary N'Galy-Mann Lecture about vertical HIV transmissions at this year's Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Key points: 1. The effort to end vertical transmissions has stalled: In 2022, an estimated 130,000 seroconversions ocured among children under age 10. 2. “The crux of the issue here is the lack of access to services" to mothers living with HIV. 3. The solution is observing the 95-95-95 HIV suppression model; “This is where we started; this is where we need to go back,” M'bori-Ngacha urged. 4. “There is no single bullet that will drive us toward progress. We need it all," but “Are we going to do better than what we already have?” 5. Now is not the time to give up: “Look how far we have come. There’s now hope. Do not slacken. It is possible to end HIV in children.” #HIV #Women #ChoiceMatters #CROI2024. https://lnkd.in/eweFpjuR

Reflecting on my early career with #PEPFAR, this was a time when an #HIV diagnosis was a death sentence. However, thanks to the vision of PEPFAR and the dedication of partners like AMPATH Kenya, that is no longer the case. We are now in a new era where we are thinking about geriatric syndromes and common comorbidities (or multimorbidities) associated with aging for people living with HIV. I am fortunate to work alongside brilliant colleagues who are addressing these issues head-on. In a recent piece in The Lancet, they share valuable insights and challenges in this evolving landscape: 💡 Older individuals living with HIV and comorbid chronic diseases often struggle to navigate healthcare systems beyond the HIV clinic. 💡 Stigma persists, impacting access to care and quality of life. 💡 High poverty, low employment rates, and rural living conditions hinder access to necessary medications, lab tests, and healthcare providers for chronic diseases. Together at AMPATH, we are committed to addressing these challenges and ensuring a better quality of life for people living with HIV as they age. “AMPATH embraces a person-centred care model to provide innovative programming for older people living with HIV. AMPATH supports the performance of community-based #NCD screening, screening for hypertension during routine clinic visits, the use of an electronic medical system module to flag clients with elevated blood pressure, and training of HIV clinical officers on hypertension care. Leveraging its existing peer navigation programme, AMPATH is now engaging peers older than 60 years to help older people living with HIV navigate referrals to NCD clinics outside the HIV care clinic.” Read more here ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gyT3MUXn #agingwithHIV #healthequity #AMPATH

🌍 Transforming HIV Care for Young People: Insights from the SEARCH-Youth Trial   The SEARCH-Youth trial is a remarkable example of innovation in global health. Focused on adolescents and young adults living with HIV in rural Kenya and Uganda, the study tested a multilevel health system intervention designed to improve virological suppression.   Key findings include: 🔹 8% increase in viral suppression compared to standard care 🔹 Targeted support through life stage-based assessments, enabling personalized care plans 🔹 Enhanced clinic accessibility through alternative care options 🔹 Rapid viral load testing to boost treatment adherence 🔹 A communication platform connecting rural healthcare providers   Why this matters: Adolescents and young adults bear a disproportionate share of the HIV disease burden. Tailored interventions for this age group not only improve health outcomes but also reduce disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), leading to long-term societal benefits. My take: This study underscores the importance of breaking down geographical and systemic barriers in healthcare. By tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of vulnerable populations, we can make meaningful strides in addressing health inequities. The integration of technology, targeted assessments, and alternative care pathways offers a replicable model for improving outcomes in other rural and underserved settings. The implications for global health are clear: To tackle complex challenges like HIV, we need adaptive, evidence-based strategies that address the specific contexts of the communities we serve. For further reading: https://lnkd.in/ecXHdvmV #GlobalHealth #HIVCare #YouthHealth #HealthEquity #HealthInnovation #RuralHealthcare #AfricaHIVCare #WHO World Health Organization Georgetown University School of Health The Global Fund

Proud to be an Author for an abstract that demonstrates the tremendous capacity of routine and traditional supply chain data in driving HIV intervention implementation.

🌟 Exciting News!!🌟 I am thrilled to share that I've been selected to participate in the Clinical Trial Design Academy for Advocates, focusing on the African cohort. The Clinical Trials Design Academy plays a crucial role in building the capacity of African-based advocates in understanding and translating key concepts and issues related to next-generation clinical trial design. It aims to position AVAC as a leading resource for industry, regulators, and other stakeholders on the design and conduct of future research. ✅Key objectives include building advocacy capacity, establishing collaboration mechanisms, identifying key issues in trial design, cascading knowledge and resources, linking experts to national research sites, and contributing to the people's research agenda on statistical, tactical, and ethical issues in trial designs. ✨This prestigious opportunity aligns perfectly with my passion for advocacy in HIV prevention and my commitment to staying at the forefront of biomedical research. Having recently attended the CROI Conference -Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2024, I am more motivated than ever to contribute meaningfully to the discourse surrounding HIV prevention trial designs. My experiences as a researcher, advocate, and Let Youth Lead (LYL) advocate have equipped me with the necessary insights and perspectives to engage effectively in discussions on clinical trial design. The academy, facilitated by AVAC aims to build a core group of African-based advocates who can navigate the complexities of next-generation clinical trial designs while championing community engagement and input. With a focus on empowering advocates to understand and communicate key concepts in trial design, this initiative is poised to shape the future of HIV prevention research in Africa and beyond. As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of HIV prevention, it is essential that advocates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively advocate for innovative trial designs that prioritize community needs and ethical considerations. I am honored to be part of this esteemed academy and look forward to collaborating with fellow advocates, researchers, and stakeholders to drive progress in HIV prevention research beyond Botswana and Africa 🌍 Together, let's amplify our voices, advocate for inclusive trial designs, and pave the way for a brighter future in HIV prevention. #HIVPrevention #ClinicalTrialDesign #Advocacy #CommunityEngagement #AVAC #LetYouthLead #Empowerment #HealthEquity #SDGs #Africa #FutureLeaders #CROI #Research #HIVResearch

🌟 Exploring the Use of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Among PLHIV on Antiretroviral Medication🌟 New research paper published in AIDS Research and Therapy that delves into the use of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral medication. 🔬 Study Overview: This cross-sectional study, conducted at the Infectious Disease unit of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana, aimed to determine the prevalence of TCAM use and examine the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with its use among PLHIV. 💡 Key Findings: - Prevalence of TCAM Use: The study found that 25.2% of the 420 participants reported using TCAM. - Demographics: The majority of participants were female (76.2%) and urban community dwellers (77.9%). - Duration of HIV Diagnosis: 77.4% had been diagnosed with HIV for ≥ 5 years and had been on antiretroviral medications for more than 5 years. - No Significant Associations: Interestingly, no sociodemographic or HIV-related health factor was significantly associated with TCAM use in the study population. 🌟 Implications: The high prevalence of TCAM use among PLHIV highlights the need for healthcare providers and policymakers to consider these practices when addressing patient care. The study suggests that further qualitative research is needed to explore the reasons behind TCAM use and to develop strategies that integrate these practices with conventional HIV treatment. 🔍 Conclusion: This research underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the use of TCAM among PLHIV to ensure comprehensive and effective healthcare. By acknowledging and integrating these practices, we can better support the health and well-being of individuals living with HIV. Let's continue to support and celebrate advancements in HIV research and patient care! 🌍💉🧬 #HIVResearch #Healthcare #MedicalScience #TCAM #HIVTreatment #PatientCare #HealthInnovation #MedicalLaboratoryTechnology #Microbiology #Phlebotomy #LaboratoryTesting #DiagnosticTesting #HealthcareProfessional #MedicalTesting #ClinicalLaboratory #BiomedicalScience #HealthcareIndustry #MedicalScience #LaboratoryMedicine #ClinicalMicrobiology #InfectionControl #PhlebotomyTechnician #MedicalLabTechnician #MicrobiologyLab #ClinicalLab #HealthcareCareer #MedicalCareer #ScienceCareer #COVID19Testing #Virology #Bacteriology #Parasitology #MolecularDiagnosis #GeneticTesting #Cytology #Histopathology #Immunology #Serology

Today I will be presenting the SHARE Research Collaborative’s late-breaker poster (LB12) on the M12 results of the anti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-ageist ILANA study during the International AIDS Society #AIDS2024 ! ILANA is the first study exploring delivery of long-acting injectable CAB+RPV for people living with HIV in both clinical and community settings in the UK. It is also the first study to mandate equitable recruitment targets within its protocol, resulting in enrolment of 53% women, 70% racially minoritised people, and 40% aged over the age of 50 - showing inclusive recruitment is possible! 💪💪🏾💪🏿. Interestingly, only 27 participants (24%) actually chose to receive treatment in the community: 19 received home visits and 8 attended a community-based organisation. Among this group, feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness measures were high (73-81%). Among all participants, feasibility, acceptability and appropriate measures for the injection 💉 were very high (79-87%), but for the community treatment setting they were much lower (44-47%). We also found that women and Black people were less likely to find the injection feasible and appropriate compared to men and non-Black people, respectively (whereas acceptability was similar across all groups). Key takeaways: 1) Most participants chose not to receive their CAB+RPV injections in the community, but those who did found it highly feasible, acceptable and appropriate; 2) The benefits of CAB+RPV and community delivery may not be felt equally across all people living with HIV, so additional support and modalities are important for increasing the feasibility and appropriateness of long-acting therapies 3) The type of community setting offered should be carefully considered, and concerns around confidentiality, stigma, and access to HIV-specialist staff should be addressed Also at #AIDS2024 are a number of ILANA posters exploring the qualitative data on community delivery, adherence and perceptions of injectable treatment - more on those later! Huge thanks to all the participants, the site principal investigators Tristan Barber Julie Fox Vanessa Apea Mindy Clarke Emily Clarke Ruth Byrne, the nursing teams, SHARE quali team Rosalie Hayes Sara Paparini at Wolfson Institute of Population Health (QMUL), Barts Health NHS Trust staff Kyle Ring and James Hand, community author and advisor Bakita Kasadha, MA Blizard Institute’s Nishat Halim Sadna Ullah for trial coordination and PCTU’s Jo Haviland and Yuk Wong for the analysis. European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) British HIV Association (BHIVA) Queen Mary University of London Laura Waters Tristan Barber

Community interventions for pandemic preparedness: A scoping review of pandemic preparedness lessons from HIV, COVID-19, and other public health emergencies of international concern. Hafez, S., Ismail, S. A., Zibwowa, Z., Alhamshary, N., Elsayed, R., Dhaliwal, M., Samuels, F., & Fakoya, A. (2024). PLOS global public health, 4(5), e0002758. https://lnkd.in/dQ3kGexb Abstract Community action is broadly recognised as central to comprehensive and effective system responses to pandemics. However, there is uncertainty about how and where communities can be best supported to bolster long-term resilience and preparedness. We applied a typology of #community interventions: Community Informing, Consulting, Involving, Collaborating or Empowering- or CICICE to cover the diverse range of interventions identified across the literature and used this to structure a scoping review addressing three linked topics: (i) how CICICE interventions have been understood and applied in the literature on epidemic and pandemic preparedness; (ii) the spectrum of interventions that have been implemented to strengthen CICICE and (iii) what evidence is available on their effectiveness in influencing preparedness for current and future emergencies. We drew on peer-reviewed and grey literature from the #HIV (from 2000) and #COVID-19 pandemics and recent public health emergencies of international concern (from 2008), identified through systematic searches in MEDLINE, Scopus, the Cochrane Collaboration database, supplemented by keyword-structured searches in GoogleScholar and websites of relevant global health organisations. Following screening and extraction, key themes were identified using a combined inductive/deductive approach. 130 papers met the criteria for inclusion. Interventions for preparedness were identified across the spectrum of CICICE. Most work on COVID-19 focused on informing and consulting rather than capacity building and #empowerment. The literature on HIV was more likely to report interventions emphasising human rights perspectives and empowerment. There was little robust evidence on the role of CICICE interventions in building preparedness. Evidence of effect was most robust for multi-component interventions for HIV #prevention and control. Much of the reporting focused on intermediate outcomes, including measures of health service utilisation. We put forward a series of recommendations to help address evidence shortfalls, including clarifying definitions, organising and stratifying interventions by several parameters and strengthening evaluation methods for CICICE.