Opinion Paper - Special Collection: UNAIDS Targets for 2030

Importance of global communication to combat global pandemics: Lessons from the HIV Online Provider Education programme

Efeose A. Airewele, Henry Sunpath, Mahomed-Yunus S. Moosa, Rajesh T. Gandhi
Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine | Vol 22, No 1 | a1281 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v22i1.1281 | © 2021 Efeose Andrea Airewele, Henry Sunpath, Mahomed-Yunus S Moosa, Rajesh T Gandhi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 June 2021 | Published: 31 August 2021

About the author(s)

Efeose A. Airewele, Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America; and, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Henry Sunpath, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Mahomed-Yunus S. Moosa, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Rajesh T. Gandhi, Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America;and, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

Abstract

In many ways, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic mirrors the challenges, lessons and opportunities of the HIV pandemic. In this article, we argue that global pandemics such as COVID-19 and HIV require a global response. We highlight the HIV Online Provider Education (HOPE) programme as an example of the importance of global communication when combating a pandemic. From both the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics, we have learned that to optimise health worldwide, it is necessary to have effective and efficient means of swiftly sharing experiences, expertise, best practices and guidelines. To prepare for the next public health emergency, clinicians and researchers must put in place and promote effective programmes for global communication.

Keywords

HIV; AIDS; COVID-19; COVID; pandemic; communication; collaboration; global health; public health

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