Leveraging human resources for outbreak analysis: lessons from an international collaboration to support the sub-Saharan African COVID-19 response

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases are a growing threat in sub-Saharan African countries, but the human and technical capacity to quickly respond to outbreaks remains limited. Here, we describe the experience and lessons learned from a joint project with the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) to support the sub-Saharan African COVID-19 response.In June 2020, WHO AFRO contracted a number of consultants to reinforce the COVID-19 response in member states by providing actionable epidemiological analysis. Given the urgency of the situation and the magnitude of work required, we recruited a worldwide network of field experts, academics and students in the areas of public health, data science and social science to support the effort. Most analyses were performed on a merged line list of COVID-19 cases using a reverse engineering model (line listing built using data extracted from national situation reports shared by countries with the Regional Office for Africa as per the IHR (2005) obligations). The data analysis platform The Renku Project (https://renkulab.io) provided secure data storage and permitted collaborative coding.Over a period of 6 months, 63 contributors from 32 nations (including 17 African countries) participated in the project. A total of 45 in-depth country-specific epidemiological reports and data quality reports were prepared for 28 countries. Spatial transmission and mortality risk indices were developed for 23 countries. Text and video-based training modules were developed to integrate and mentor new members. The team also began to develop EpiGraph Hub, a web application that automates the generation of reports similar to those we created, and includes more advanced data analyses features (e.g. mathematical models, geospatial analyses) to deliver real-time, actionable results to decision-makers.Within a short period, we implemented a global collaborative approach to health data management and analyses to advance national responses to health emergencies and outbreaks. The interdisciplinary team, the hands-on training and mentoring, and the participation of local researchers were key to the success of this initiative.

Developing forecasting capacity for public health emergency management in Africa using syndemics approach: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

“…This is because, for example, the GRAPH network and WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, which seek to strengthen surveillance systems and data analytics for improved decision-making during public health emergencies in the African region and globally, respectively, have recognised modelling as an essential component of their activities. 12 13 Notably, the establishment of the GRAPH network—a group of African multidisciplinary scientists and international collaborators—during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has remained very instrumental to the continued understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic dynamics in the African region. 14–17 Certainly, with these developments, we believe that the WHO AFRO and other African health partners are already well positioned to support the development of a sustainable forecasting capacity in Africa for future pandemics as well as other emergencies.…”

“…Nevertheless, we anticipate that the WHO AFRO’s emergency response flagship programmes will leverage on some local capacity-promoting emergency management initiatives, in which the WHO AFRO is inextricably part of, such as the Global Research and Analyses for Public Health (GRAPH) network and the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence among others. This is because, for example, the GRAPH network and WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, which seek to strengthen surveillance systems and data analytics for improved decision-making during public health emergencies in the African region and globally, respectively, have recognised modelling as an essential component of their activities 12 13. Notably, the establishment of the GRAPH network—a group of African multidisciplinary scientists and international collaborators—during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has remained very instrumental to the continued understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic dynamics in the African region 14–17.…”