Nom i cognoms / Name and surname
Alfredo Mayor
Afiliació / Affiliation
ISGlobal
Programa de finançament europeu en que s’enmarca aquest projecte? / European funding programme in which this project is being carried out?
EU support (FP7, H2020, etc.) other than MSCA
Títol del projecte / Project title
COVID-19 surveillance in rural Mozambique for prompt and effective response
Número del projecte / Project number
RIA2020EF3005
Breu explicació del projecte / Brief explanation of your project
Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. The current COVID-19 pandemic is the paradigmatic example on how infectious diseases may menace the world’s health and economy, and particularly contribute to enhance current inequities in health related to wealth. Although Mozambique has so far had few confirmed cases of COVID-19, it is unknown if low testing rates and other factors such as the warm climatic conditions may explain the apparently low spread of the virus. The present proposal aims to rapidly gain an understanding of the epidemic curve and natural history of SARS-CoV-2 in a rural area in southern Mozambique through a series of epidemiological indicators obtained at both the health facility and community levels, so as to provide evidence-based recommendations for managing and mitigating the COVID19 epidemic. Age-specific incidence of severe COVID-19 obtained at health facilities during a period of 6 months together with seroprevalence data obtained from the community will be used to determine SARS-CoV-2 reproduction number and effects of interventions through mathematical modelling. Viral, serological and clinical progression will be assessed in a longitudinal cohort of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. Community awareness of COVID-19 and of project aims will be fostered through engagement activities among community leaders and members. COVID-19 surveillance capacities in Mozambique will be strengthened by developing SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic approaches (molecular testing and an innovative immunoassay to detect antibodies against the virus), as well as SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing approaches to identify transmission chains. Finally, the project will pursue the creation of a bank of serum, virus materials and data which will be open for immediate public health purposes, including the development of point-of-care diagnostic tests. This project will be coordinated by the Manhiça Health Research Center (Mozambique) in conjunction with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Spain), which will lead the transfer of molecular and immunological tools to the Mozambican research center. Imperial College will provide the modelling expertise to derive metrics of transmission, and INS the expertise to conduct quality control of laboratory determinations as well as dissemination and networking with the Ministry of Health in Mozambique.
Enllaç a la pàgina web del projecte / Link to your project website
https://www.5g-routes.eu/
Repte en que s’emmarca aquest projecte / Challenge within the framework of this project
1. Health, demographic change and wellbeing
