Navigating long-COVID in East Africa: Patient experiences, healthcare gaps and system readiness in Ethiopia and Uganda

Authors: Yonas Teshome, Asadu Sserwanga, Jane Achan, Tedila Habte, Netsanet Abera, Christine Nebriye, James K Tibenderana, Agonafer Tekalegne, Godfrey Magumba, Anthony Nuwa

Long-COVID poses a substantial, yet under-recognised public health burden in Ethiopia and Uganda, with growing socio-economic and health system impacts.

Globally, about one in three individuals (36 percent) experiences long-COVID after SARS-CoV-2 infection, with African studies estimating a prevalence of between 40 and 49 percent. Despite growing recognition of long-COVID as a global health challenge, evidence on its burden and impact in resource-limited settings remains scarce. This study explored the lived experiences of long-COVID patients alongside healthcare providers’ perspectives in Ethiopia and Uganda. It focused on clinical manifestations, healthcare utilisation and health system readiness, to inform contextually appropriate interventions and policies.

This poster was presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, held on 9-13 November in Toronto, Canada.