ANTICOV Clinical Trial: Science communication and engagement to support knowledge generation and sharing around the ANTICOV clinical trial sites in 13 African countries

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, serious concern was raised about the legitimacy and intentions of the clinical research community to address the pandemic in Africa. As the pandemic continues to escalate and raise concerns across the continent, the need for accurate communication and provision of information especially around planned and ongoing clinical trials grows increasingly significant. Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and its partners understood early the value of using their experience in conducting collaborative R&D in the public interest, to contribute to global efforts to address the pandemic, especially in resource-limited settings in Africa, where the virus could overwhelm already under-resourced fragile health systems. Access to adapted therapies in low- and middle-income countries is vital to prevent progression of COVID-19 from mild to severe disease. Through the ANTICOV Consortium, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative with several African and international partners, is implementing a clinical trial to generate data on new treatment strategies in up to 3000 mild-moderate COVID-19 patients in resourcelimited settings across 13 African countries. The overarching goal is to reduce the number progressing to severe forms of the virus infection requiring hospitalization, thereby relieving the burden on health care systems. The success or failure of the planned study rests on accurate, transparent, and easily comprehensible communication by the scientists in the Consortium on the intent and progress of the ANTICOV trial. Through the ANTICOV Science Engagement and Communication Project (ASEC), DNDi plans to carry out activities to demonstrate how communication and sharing of accurate information can support knowledge generation around COVID-19 clinical trials, foster trust between the public and scientists, and highlight contributions to the COVID-19 response from Africa. Expected Outputs 1. One training and networking session for scientists from the 13 ANTICOV clinical trial sites. 2. Radio spots and dramatized radio programmes in three Africa countries (Kenya, Uganda and Ghana) 3. Three radio shows with COVID-19 experts from three African countries (Kenya, Uganda and Ghana) 4. Content collection (photography and story collection from two ANTICOV Clinical trial sites in Africa