The logic model for Uganda’s health sector preparedness for public health threats and emergencies

Abstract

Background: Uganda is an ecological hot-spot with infectious disease transmission belts which exacerbates its vulnerability to epidemics. Its proximity to the Congo Basin, climate change pressure on eco-systems, increased international travel and globalization, and influx of refugees due to porous borders, has compounded the problem. Public Health Events are a major challenge in the region with significant impact on Global Health Security.Objective: The country developed a multi-hazard plan with the purpose of harmonizing processes and guiding stakeholders on strengthening emergency preparedness and response.Method: Comprehensive risk profiling, identification of preparedness gaps and capacities were developed using a preparedness logic model, which is a step by step process. A multidisciplinary team was constituted; the Strategic Tool for Analysis of Risks was used for risk profiling and identification of hazards; a desk review of relevant documents informed the process and finally, approval was sought from the National Task Force for public health emergencies.Results: Target users and key public health preparedness and response functions of the multi-hazard plan were identified. The key capabilities identified were: coordination; epidemiology and surveillance; laboratory; risk communication and social mobilization. In each of these capabilities, key players were identified. Risk profiling classified road traffic accident, cholera, malaria and typhoid as very high risk. Meningitis, VHF, drought, industrial accidents, terrorism, floods and landslides were high risk. Hepatitis E, avian influenza and measles were low risk and the only plague fell into the category of very low risk. Risk profiling using STAR yielded good results. All risk categories required additional preparedness activities, and very high and high-risk categories required improved operational response capacity and risk mitigation measures.Conclusion: Uganda successfully developed a national multi-hazard emergency preparedness and response plan using the preparedness logic model. The plan is now ready for implementation by the Uganda MoH and partners.

Digital Pandemic Response Systems: A Strategic Management Framework Against Covid-19

“…As the field proceeded in the years to follow, the studies remained strongly connected to practice (cf. Ario et al, 2019;Rose et al, 2017) whereas some studies began to develop a more sophisticated and theoretical reasoning such as the competency profile of De Rooij et al (2020) or resilience promotion by Khan et al (2018). Depending on the maturity of research, the literature discusses three different types of public health preparedness frameworks: linear process frameworks (4 studies), cyclic process frameworks (5 studies) and organizational frameworks (11 studies).…”

Epidemiology and antibiotic susceptibility of Vibrio cholerae associated with the 2017 outbreak in Kasese district, Uganda

“…The key components of the response included; coordination, epidemiology and surveillance, laboratory identification, risk communication and social mobilization. The response strategy was adopted from the logic model for Uganda's health sector preparedness for public health threats and emergencies [13]. Few cases continued to be reported in a lower frequency until the outbreak was fully contained by the 8th of January 2018.…”

Epidemiology and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Vibrio cholerae Associated with the 2017 Outbreak in Kasese district

“…Data was checked for completeness to avoid cases of missing data and entered in Microsoft Excel. The response strategy was adopted from the logic model for Uganda's health sector preparedness for public health threats and emergencies (14). Few cases continued to be reported in a lower frequency until the outbreak was fully contained by the 8 th of January 2018.…”