International clinical trials published on Wednesday confirmed the hope that cheap, widely available steroid drugs can help seriously USAID UNDERTAKES STUDY TO ill patients survive Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. SUPPORT WATER, SANITATION
Kazungula and Kalomo districts were picked while in Muchinga Province, Mpika and Chinsali are being covered.
Ms. Mpande added that The assessment is conother districts in the counducted on behalf of Research try include, Kalabo, Nalolo Triangle International’s and Sesheke in Western Zambia USAID funded Province as well as Luwingu Project on expanding water and Nakonde in Northern and sanitation on the upProvince. “Impact Research coming WASHE Project in is trying to assess the current Kazungula district as well as situation in terms of water other districts in selected arand sanitation in peri-urban eas in the country. and rural areas in the named
This came to light during districts. The information a special D-WASHE meeting gathered will help Research held at Kazungula Council Triangle International (RTI) Chamber yesterday. and USAID to establish strat
Dexamethasone Impact Research was Assistant, the first steroid egies that shown will to enhance be effective the Brenda in severely Mpande ill Covid-19 disclosed patients. enabling environment for that in Southern Province, private sector engagement
IMPACT Research Limited is conducting a research on expanding Water and Sanitation Project Baseline Assessment in 12 districts in Zambia.
body’s overreaction to the infection.
Corticosteroids should now be the first-line treatment for critically ill patients, the authors added. The only other drug shown to be effective in seriously ill patients, and only modestly at that, is remdesivir.
Steroids like dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone are often used by doctors to tamp in down water the service body’s delivery immune in Zambia,” system, Ms. alleviating Mpande inflamexplained. mation, swelling and pain.
Many Ms. Mpande Covid-19 further patients statdie ed not that of Impact the virus, Research but of Ltd the
body’s overreaction to the in
also hopes to professionalize
fection.
WASHE services, promote
The analysis of pooled
accountability for reliable and
data found that steroids
high quality service provision.
were linked with a one-third
She mentioned that in
reduction in deaths among Kazungula Covid-19 district, patients. baseDexaline methasone assessment produced has been the undertaken strongest results: in 10 enumeraa 36 pertion cent areas drop in in four deaths chiefdoms in 1,282 namely patients Mukuni, treated in three Sekute, sepMusokotwane arate trials. and Nyawa respectively. In June, Ms. Mpande researchers said a report will be generated on the findings and inform the RTI and USAID on the possibilities of the upcoming WASHE Project in those areas.
Research Triangle
Oxford University discov
International is currently im
ered that dexamethasone
plementing USAID’s flagship
seemed to improve survival
Zambia Expanding Water and
rates in severely ill patients. Sanitation Researchers Project had (USAID hoped that ZEWP). other RTI inexpensive is an indepensteroids dent, might nonprofit help these research patients. institute Taken dedicated together, to improving the new the human studies condition will bolster with confia vision dence to address in the use the of world’s steroids most and critical address problems any lingering with science-based hesitancy on solutions the part in of at pursuit some of a physicians, better future. said - Dr.
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