Covid-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund: Research project abstracts

Multiple research projects were proposed across Africa, with the goal to improve local understanding, prevention and response to COVID-19. The research grant abstracts outline the different projects that would take place using funding from the COVID-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund.

Projects in Botswana

In Botswana, there were many projects that research COVID-19. These include:

• One project aimed to identify the biomarkers for disease management. This would be achieved by studying how COVID-10 affects the immune system. For instance, analysing immune cells, cytokines and antibodies in patients with the illness.
• Another piece of research would compare the social factors affecting COVID-19 vulnerability in Botswana and Malawi. These factors include gender, income and disability.
• A third project would examine the risks of COVID-19 spreading through wastewater used in agriculture. This meant researchers testing for the virus in sewage and studying its interaction with other microbes.

Abstracts from Côte d’Ivoire

Research in Côte d’Ivoire focused on:

• Researchers would evaluate how public health information and communication were managed during the pandemic. With the goal to improve messaging and integrating gender perspectives.
• Similarly, another project aimed to improve communication strategies during health crises by studying how messages were shared, who received them and how communities reacted.
• One study would look at the link between bushmeat markets and the spread of viruses. Involving the collection of samples from wildlife and raising awareness of health risks.

COVID-19 Research in Burkina Faso

To understand how the virus spreads and changes over time, scientists would conduct genetic and mutation analysis of SARS-CoV-2 strains in the country. They would also map transmission networks and to study how different virus variants relate to clinical symptoms. The objective of the research was to help tailor public health strategies by understanding which virus mutations are circulating and which might resist treatment or vaccines.

Projects in Ethiopia

The projects in Ethiopia looked at:

• One project focused on detecting the virus in wastewater and river systems to identify contamination hotspots and inform prevention strategies.
• Another research team would explore why people choose to follow, or not follow, safety measures. This would be done by using a social-ecological model to understand personal and social factors.
• The goal of a third study was to develop support programmes for mental health and reintegration of migrant returnees who had been quarantined.

Research in Ghana

Research in Ghana focused on ways to improve everyday life. For instance:

• A research team would test a faster and cheaper COVID-19 detection method that could work in low-resource health facilities.
• Another study would look at whether mouthwashes could temporarily reduce the virus load in asymptomatic patients, potentially making clinics safer.
• A final piece of research would look at mental health during the pandemic, focusing on how physical activity affected stress, and how survivors dealt with stigma and emotional challenges.

Projects in Kenya

In Kenya, the research proposals centred around diverse areas. This included:

• One group of researchers would use wastewater and blood samples to track virus spread and evaluate home-based care effectiveness. This would also help in creating a digital tool for real-time surveillance.
• Another study examined public attitudes and behaviours toward government prevention measures. They also would test medicinal plants for possible COVID-19 treatment.
• A third project would investigate how the pandemic affected food security, diet, and physical activity in both rural and urban areas.

Research abstracts in Malawi

The abstracts from research teams in Malawi were on:

• Researchers would study the pandemic’s effects on vulnerable communities’ livelihoods, especially in semi-arid regions. In addition, how movement restrictions disrupted rural-urban connections.
• Another team would assess the mental health impacts of COVID-19, focusing on health workers and teenagers. The aim was to influence mental health policy and increase support for those affected by the pandemic.

Projects in Mozambique

In Mozambique, the areas of focus for research were:

• A large-scale study that would focus on how school closures affected mental health, including depression and anxiety, among students and teachers.
• Another project aimed to model how the virus spreads based on population movement and cultural behaviours, helping policymakers make better decisions. This would include looking at the challenges of applying public health measures in informal settlements with limited resources.

Research in Nigeria

In Nigeria, research would explore Nigerian medicinal plants to find compounds that could block the virus from entering human cells, focusing on traditional antiviral herbs. Scientists aimed to isolate active ingredients, test their safety, and potentially develop new treatments against COVID-19.

In summary

Overall, these projects aimed to provide evidence-based insights and tools that are practical, affordable, and tailored for African communities.