Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases?
Abstract Background Effective control of emerging mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika requires, amongst other things, a functional healthcare system, ready and capable of timely detection and prompt response to incipient epidemics. We assessed the readiness of Zanziba...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06867-6 |
| _version_ | 1818362894470873088 |
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| author | Fatma Saleh Jovin Kitau Flemming Konradsen Leonard E.G. Mboera Karin L. Schiøler |
| author_facet | Fatma Saleh Jovin Kitau Flemming Konradsen Leonard E.G. Mboera Karin L. Schiøler |
| author_sort | Fatma Saleh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Effective control of emerging mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika requires, amongst other things, a functional healthcare system, ready and capable of timely detection and prompt response to incipient epidemics. We assessed the readiness of Zanzibar health facilities and districts for early detection and management of mosquito-borne viral disease outbreaks. Methods A cross-sectional study involving all 10 District Health Management Teams and 45 randomly selected public and private health facilities in Zanzibar was conducted using a mixed-methods approach including observations, document review, and structured interviews with health facility in-charges and District Health Management Team members. Results The readiness of the Zanzibar healthcare system for timely detection, management, and control of dengue and other mosquito-borne viral disease outbreaks was critically low. The majority of health facilities and districts lacked the necessary requirements including standard guidelines, trained staff, real-time data capture, analysis and reporting systems, as well as laboratory diagnostic capacity. In addition, health education programmes for creating public awareness and Aedes mosquito surveillance and control activities were non-existent. Conclusions The Zanzibar healthcare system has limited readiness for management, and control of mosquito-borne viral diseases. In light of impending epidemics, the critical shortage of skilled human resource, lack of guidelines, lack of effective disease and vector surveillance and control measures as well as lack of laboratory capacity at all levels of health facilities require urgent attention across the Zanzibar archipelago. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:39:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-799d7c63decf4e829cba339815df52c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:39:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-799d7c63decf4e829cba339815df52c12022-12-21T23:30:35ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632021-08-0121111010.1186/s12913-021-06867-6Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases?Fatma Saleh0Jovin Kitau1Flemming Konradsen2Leonard E.G. Mboera3Karin L. Schiøler4Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeDepartment of Parasitology and Entomology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeGlobal Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of CopenhagenSACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of AgricultureGlobal Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of CopenhagenAbstract Background Effective control of emerging mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika requires, amongst other things, a functional healthcare system, ready and capable of timely detection and prompt response to incipient epidemics. We assessed the readiness of Zanzibar health facilities and districts for early detection and management of mosquito-borne viral disease outbreaks. Methods A cross-sectional study involving all 10 District Health Management Teams and 45 randomly selected public and private health facilities in Zanzibar was conducted using a mixed-methods approach including observations, document review, and structured interviews with health facility in-charges and District Health Management Team members. Results The readiness of the Zanzibar healthcare system for timely detection, management, and control of dengue and other mosquito-borne viral disease outbreaks was critically low. The majority of health facilities and districts lacked the necessary requirements including standard guidelines, trained staff, real-time data capture, analysis and reporting systems, as well as laboratory diagnostic capacity. In addition, health education programmes for creating public awareness and Aedes mosquito surveillance and control activities were non-existent. Conclusions The Zanzibar healthcare system has limited readiness for management, and control of mosquito-borne viral diseases. In light of impending epidemics, the critical shortage of skilled human resource, lack of guidelines, lack of effective disease and vector surveillance and control measures as well as lack of laboratory capacity at all levels of health facilities require urgent attention across the Zanzibar archipelago.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06867-6Healthcare system readinessMosquito-borne viral diseaseEpidemicsZanzibar |
| spellingShingle | Fatma Saleh Jovin Kitau Flemming Konradsen Leonard E.G. Mboera Karin L. Schiøler Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases? BMC Health Services Research Healthcare system readiness Mosquito-borne viral disease Epidemics Zanzibar |
| title | Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases? |
| title_full | Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases? |
| title_fullStr | Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases? |
| title_short | Emerging epidemics: is the Zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito-borne viral diseases? |
| title_sort | emerging epidemics is the zanzibar healthcare system ready to detect and respond to mosquito borne viral diseases |
| topic | Healthcare system readiness Mosquito-borne viral disease Epidemics Zanzibar |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06867-6 |
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