INTEGRATION OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION IN THE POST EBOLA STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION: FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE ON HIV/AIDS TO EBOLA

VIRUS DISEASE

INTEGRATION OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION IN THE POST EBOLA STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION: FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE ON HIV/AIDS TO EBOLA

VIRUS DISEASE Raoul Emeric Guetiya Wadoum1, 2, 3,4*, Nadege Goumkwa Mafopa2,3, Marta Giovanetti1,3,5, Gianluca Russo6, Martin Sanou Sobze2, Antonella Minutolo1, Patrick

Turay7, Joseph Turay4, Mahmoud Kargbo8, Thomas Turay7, Mohamed Thomas Kanu9, Brima Kargbo10, James Akpablie11, Carrie Jo Cain12, Paola Pasin13, Cinzia

Cecchini14, Alberto Cresci14, Carla Montesano1,3, Vittorio Colizzi1

1University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy; 2University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon; 3Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory (MBIL), Makeni, Sierra Leone; 4University

of Makeni, Makeni, Sierra Leone; 5National Institute of Health – ISS, Rome, Italy; 6University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy; 7Holy Spirit Hospital, Makeni, Sierra Leone; 8Partner

Relief Development, Freetown, Sierra Leone; 9Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors Bombali Branch (SLAESB); 10Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS); 11World Health Organization (WHO); 12World Hope International (WHI); 13ENGIM Italian cooperation; 14Synbiotec S.R.L., University of Camerino, Italy

The extraordinary commitment, social mobilisation and lobby of HIV/AIDS patient associations induced the implication of politicians, government and Non

Governmental Organization (NGO) to provide funding, guidelines, strong containment and involvement of pharmaceutical companies resulting in an unprecedented

scale-up of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support [1]. Although these impressive gains and universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS patients is not

available worldwide [2], Ebola survivors associations can learn and construct basic program activities with direct effect on reduction of stigmatisation and increase of

clinical assessment of Ebola survivors and Ebola-contacts. We believe that a rapid transfer of technologies and human resources from HIV/AIDS to EVD research

could highly improve scientific understanding and better management of side effects they suffer.

INTRODUCTION

UNESCO Merck Africa Research Summit- MARS,19th and 20th of October 2015 Geneva, Switzerland

Researchers across the world should come together to discuss the generation, sharing and dissemination of research data and integrate patients association in defining new policies . Such successful integration has been achieved with HIV/AIDS patients association and actually transfers successfully to Ebola survivors association in Makeni, Sierra Leone.

REFERENCES

RESULTS

EXLUDED

CLINICAL FOLLOW-UP VIRAL LOAD

MEDICATION

POSITIVE

RT-PCR IN BIOLOGICAL FLUID

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

CONSEILLING FOR ABSTINENCE AND USE

OF CONDOM

HBV, HCV, HIV, CMV

NEGATIVE POSITIVE

ADMISSION OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE SURVIVORS FROM THE SANDALOKO CHIEFDOM AND SHEBORA CHIEFDOM BOTH IN THE BOMBALI DISTRICT

ANTI-ZEBOV NP IgG

NEGATIVE

TRANSAMINASE (ALAT, ASAT) CLINICAL FOLLOW-UP

ABNORMAL NORMAL

SET-UP AND INAUGURATION OF THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY (MBIL)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ETHICAL CLAIRANCE FROM THE SIERRA LEONE ETHIC SCIENTIFIC AND REVIEW COMITTEE AND SIGNING AN MoU WITH THE EBOLA SURVIVORS

ASSOCIATION BOMBALI DISTRICT BRANCH

Figure 1: MoU between Prof. V. Colizzi head of the MBIL and the president of

Ebola survivors association

Figure 2: Training of health care workers of Ebola survivors clinic by scientists

from MBIL

Figure 3: Providing results to Ebola survivors and explanation through

culture mediated channels

Figure 4: Education, sensitization of the population in other to reduce the stigmatization of Ebola

survivors and facilitate their social reintegration

CONCLUSION UNICEF. Children and AIDS: fifth stocktaking report, 2010. New York, NY, USA: UNICEF, 2010. United Nations. Report of the Secretary-General: uniting for universal access: towards zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. http://www.unaids.