The ongoing Lassa seroprevalence study at AMAC, Abuja and Ikorodu, Lagos are supported by two separate and autonomous Community Advisory Boards (CAB). The CAB builds and fosters partnerships between the research team and study communities. The functions of the board include but are not limited to the following:
- Attend quarterly meetings and provide feedback on issues under discussion.
- Disseminate study information to the local community.
- Provide the protocol team with myths, information, misinformation, and/or rumors circulating in the community about the study.
- Communicate concerns relating to the study from the communities and study participants.
- Assist in the development and/or implementation of community education activities (such as community forums, community sensitization/mobilization activities, etc.) and materials.
- Advise the protocol team about the effective implementation of the informed consent process.
- Suggest strategies to address ethical and operational aspects of the study conduct.
- Advise on the development and implementation of study participant recruitment and retention strategies (as applicable).
- Communicate real-life experiences from the community perspective that will be relevant to study implementation in the community.
- Serve as a resource to the community liaison officer/community educator and the protocol team.
- Recruit and orient new CAB members.
The CAB membership includes representatives of the following organizations/communities:
Abuja Site CAB: Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ansar’ud Deen Mosque, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), FCT Primary Health Care (PHC) Board, AMAC PHC Department, Gwagwa Community Ward Development Chairman (WDC), Gbagalape Community WDC, Kagini Community WDC, Kabusa Community WDC, Idu Community WDC, Karimo Community WDC, Gidan Mangoro Community WDC, Dept. of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Radio Nigeria and Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Program (MODHIP).
Lagos Site CAB: Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ansar’ud Deen Mosque, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Lagos State PHC Board, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Ikorodu PHC Department, MOH Igbogbo/Bayekun LCDA, MOH Ikorodu North LCDA, Odonla Community WDC, Ibeshe Community WDC, Bayekun Community WDC, Ita Elewa Community WDC, Department of Community Medicine, University of Lagos, Radio Nigeria and MODHIP.
