Changing Practices Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt During a Review and Planning Meeting For Neglected Tropical Disease Control Programing in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract Objectives: Review meetings are critical activities aiding successful implementation of mass administration of medicines (MAM) for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control. The objective of this study was to assess the changes in practices amid COVID-19 pandemic during the review and planning meeting for 2020 MAM. Results: A total of 42 NTD implementers participated in this study [59.5% females and 40.5% males]. Majority of the participants were Local Government NTD (LNTD) coordinators (40.48%), State NTD officers (26.19%), LGA NTD data managers (23.81%) and NGDO partners (4.76%). Majority of the participants expressed their level of satisfaction on these modes of invitation (97.5%), admission (92.5%) and coordination (97.5%) during the meeting. Our findings have shown the importance of online platforms such as WhatsApp groups and email as communication channels between programmers involved in NTD control. Furthermore, compliance level to WHO guidelines were optimal for venue spacing (100%), usage of facemasks (85%) and physical distancing (72.5%), but sub-optimal for hand-washing (67.5%) and respiratory etiquette (52.5%). There were gaps in the provision of adequate handwashing facilities for the attendees. There is a need for more refined guidelines to steer investments in the provision of adequate hand-washing points in consideration of the population during subsequent meetings or mass gatherings.