Anaemia remains a major public health problem to control in sub-Saharan Africa due to its complex causes which vary from not only direct health diseases (like iron deficiency, malaria etc) but to many predisposing causes in the the environment, culture, poverty and inequalities, and poor health and governance systems. Furthermore, anaemia control suffers from disjointed, fragmented approaches with individual programmes using different definitions of anaemia and tackling the problem from different perspectives. We aim to develop an interdisciplinary network that can lead in the control of this intractable challenge of anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa by leading cutting-edge research and facilitating the uptake and implementation of innovative solutions to prevent anaemia. We will bring together scientific experts in nutrition, food technology, global health, agriculture, social science, psychology, molecular biology and economics. We shall further include representatives of policy makers, international donor agencies, non-governmental organizations, commercial companies working in drug and food manufacturing and the public. They will firstly raise the awareness of the need for an inter-sectorial and harmonized approach to its control and secondly develop a strategic plan for research and programme implementation.

Sub-Saharan African countries have adopted COVID-19 prevention methods similar to those used in developed countries although their people live in a different context. The spread of COVID-19 in African households and people's adherence to preventive measures are not known, but this information is required to develop appropriate prevention measures. We aim to determine the intensity of COVID-19 spread in households located in urban medium-density, urban high-density and rural-high density areas in Malawi, Africa, factors that promote the spread of the disease and the impact of the disease on people's lives. Our specific objectives are to: (1) estimate the proportion of people living in the same household with infected people who become infected, (2) assess whether the risk of getting infected and developing severe symptoms are influenced by personal and nutritional characteristics and immunity to COVID-19; other infections (HIV, TB, malaria) or their treatments; and the household environment (3) assess whether the use of personal protective equipment is acceptable, feasible, and effective among people living with infected individuals (4) describe the experiences of caregivers of COVID-19 infected individuals (5) estimate the costs and lost income associated with home-based care for infected people. Study findings will help to identify high risk households/areas and design appropriate social safety nets for affected households. Our research team's existing collaboration with policy makers and local health department will facilitate the use of research findings to strengthen the fight against the disease.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.