Use of electronic tools for evidence-based preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the WHO African region

Impouma, Benido; Wolfe, Caitlin; Mboussou, Franck; Farham, Bridget; Bukhari, Arish; Flahault, Antoine; Lee, Theresa Min-Hyung; Mlanda, Tamayi; Ndumbi, Patricia; Ngom, Roland; Okot, Charles; Moussana, Fleury; Williams, George S.B.; Moussongo, Alden; Talisuna, Ambrose; Kasolo, Francis; Ahmed, Kamran; Keiser, Olivia

doi:10.1016/s2589-7500(20)30170-9

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 2 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…While appealing, this would require sustained investments in internet infrastructure, as e-IDSR is dependent on strong internet connections and is therefore hampered by poor internet connectivity, common in remote areas of the region [ 48 ]. Internet connectivity can be challenging in remote locations, however additional digital tools such as Go.Data and EWARS may have some functionality offline by means of local storage, however, an adequate internet connection is often required to upload and submit any data collected on the platforms [ 65 ]. Improvements in data collection, management, reporting, and dissemination during outbreaks is needed to ensure accurate understanding, easy scale up, and effective analyses to inform response actions, and bring a rapid end to disease transmission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…IDSR is a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy for strengthening national public health surveillance and response systems at all levels [ 9 ], yet the implementation of this strategy remains incomplete. The associated challenges that have plagued IDSR implementation since the first edition of the technical guidelines were released are not novel, however adequately addressing them requires sustained investments in stronger national public health capabilities, infrastructure and surveillance processes [ 54 , 60 , 61 , 65 , 66 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Systematic review of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) implementation in the African region

et al. 2021

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Background The WHO African region frequently experiences outbreaks and epidemics of infectious diseases often exacerbated by weak health systems and infrastructure, late detection, and ineffective outbreak response. To address this, the WHO Regional Office for Africa developed and began implementing the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy in 1998. Objectives This systematic review aims to document the identified successes and challenges surrounding the implementation of IDSR in the region available in published literature to highlight areas for prioritization, further research, and to inform further strengthening of IDSR implementation. Methods A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published in English and French from 1 July 2012 to 13 November 2019 was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science. Included articles focused on the WHO African region and discussed the use of IDSR strategies and implementation, assessment of IDSR strategies, or surveillance of diseases covered in the IDSR framework. Data were analyzed descriptively using Microsoft Excel and Tableau Desktop 2019. Results The number of peer-reviewed articles discussing IDSR remained low, with 47 included articles focused on 17 countries and regional level systems. Most commonly discussed topics were data reporting (n = 39) and challenges with IDSR implementation (n = 38). Barriers to effective implementation were identified across all IDSR core and support functions assessed in this review: priority disease detection; data reporting, management, and analysis; information dissemination; laboratory functionality; and staff training. Successful implementation was noted where existing surveillance systems and infrastructure were utilized and streamlined with efforts to increase access to healthcare. Conclusions and implications of findings These findings highlighted areas where IDSR is performing well and where implementation remains weak. While challenges related to IDSR implementation since the first edition of the technical guidelines were released are not novel, adequately addressing them requires sustained investments in stronger national public health capabilities, infrastructure, and surveillance processes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic review of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) implementation in the African region

et al. 2021

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“… 14 Agile software has also been employed for the development of iterative electronic data management tools to support real-time evidence-informed decision-making, in response to the rapidly evolving pandemic situation. 14 …”

Section: Outcomes Lessons Learnt and Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whereas routine data systems were initially affected at the onset of the pandemic, in some countries these systems rapidly evolved and adapted, thus contributing to evidence generation for response strategies as well as building overall health systems resilience. 14 Agile software has also been employed for the development of iterative electronic data management tools to support real-time evidence-informed decision-making, in response to the rapidly evolving pandemic situation. 14 Despite the above, there are still significant gaps in the response in West Africa.…”

Section: Outcomes Lessons Learnt and Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 in West Africa: regional resource mobilisation and allocation in the first year of the pandemic

et al. 2021

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The world continues to battle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas many countries are currently experiencing the second wave of the outbreak; Africa, despite being the last continent to be affected by the virus, has not experienced as much devastation as other continents. For example, West Africa, with a population of 367 million people, had confirmed 412 178 cases of COVID-19 with 5363 deaths as of 14 March 2021; compared with the USA which had recorded almost 30 million cases and 530 000 deaths, despite having a slightly smaller population (328 million). Several postulations have been made in an attempt to explain this phenomenon. One hypothesis is that African countries have leveraged on experiences from past epidemics to build resilience and response strategies which may be contributing to protecting the continent’s health systems from being overwhelmed. This practice paper from the West African Health Organization presents experience and data from the field on how countries in the region mobilised support to address the pandemic in the first year, leveraging on systems, infrastructure, capacities developed and experiences from the 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak.

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“…World Health Organization has been a strategic partner to provide platform for digital tools. [86]The InfoTech and "infodemics" in COVID era is maintaining health and health care delivery. Digital media has been widely approved at national and regional level to provide updated resources, guidelines, education and awareness.…”

Section: Information Technology (Infotech)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital Preparedness and Response Framework during infection pandemic

Thapa

2021

Preprint

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put an unprecedented burden to world health, economy and social life with possible long-term consequences. The velocity and mass of this infection pandemic had already overwhelmed every robust health care system in the world. The evidence pertaining to this novel infection pandemic is evolving, so are the challenges in terms of adequate preparedness and response. In this review, we enumerate the strategic and operational domains and build a functional framework for the management of hospital mass infection incidents due to COVID-19 and similar future pandemics. This functional framework could assist health policy maker and health care worker to implement, innovate, and translate preparedness and response to save valuable life and resources.

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Use of electronic tools for evidence-based preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the WHO African region

Cited by 10 publications

References 2 publications

Systematic review of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) implementation in the African region

Systematic review of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) implementation in the African region

COVID-19 in West Africa: regional resource mobilisation and allocation in the first year of the pandemic

Hospital Preparedness and Response Framework during infection pandemic

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