Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems
The onset of the pandemic revealed the health system inequities and inadequate preparedness, especially in the African continent. Over the past months, African countries have ensured optimum pandemic response. However, there is still a need to build further resilient health systems that enhance resp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/7/12/e010242.full |
| _version_ | 1797785545054617600 |
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| author | Thierno Balde Freddy Mutoka Banza Joseph Okeibunor Julienne Ngoundoung Anoko Opeayo Ogundiran Belinda Louise Herring Abdou Salam Gueye Jayne Byakika-Tusiime Boniface Oyugi Helena O’Malley Dick Chamla Fiona Braka Janet Kayita Kabego Landry Ephraim Nonso Ejiofor Trevor M Kanyowa Jerry-Jonas Mbasha Kamara Rashidatu Phionah Atuhebwe Nicksy Gumede Mamadou Zongo |
| author_facet | Thierno Balde Freddy Mutoka Banza Joseph Okeibunor Julienne Ngoundoung Anoko Opeayo Ogundiran Belinda Louise Herring Abdou Salam Gueye Jayne Byakika-Tusiime Boniface Oyugi Helena O’Malley Dick Chamla Fiona Braka Janet Kayita Kabego Landry Ephraim Nonso Ejiofor Trevor M Kanyowa Jerry-Jonas Mbasha Kamara Rashidatu Phionah Atuhebwe Nicksy Gumede Mamadou Zongo |
| author_sort | Thierno Balde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The onset of the pandemic revealed the health system inequities and inadequate preparedness, especially in the African continent. Over the past months, African countries have ensured optimum pandemic response. However, there is still a need to build further resilient health systems that enhance response and transition from the acute phase of the pandemic to the recovery interpandemic/preparedness phase. Guided by the lessons learnt in the response and plausible pandemic scenarios, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has envisioned a transition framework that will optimise the response and enhance preparedness for future public health emergencies. The framework encompasses maintaining and consolidating the current response capacity but with a view to learning and reshaping them by harnessing the power of science, data and digital technologies, and research innovations. In addition, the framework reorients the health system towards primary healthcare and integrates response into routine care based on best practices/health system interventions. These elements are significant in building a resilient health system capable of addressing more effectively and more effectively future public health crises, all while maintaining an optimal level of essential public health functions. The key elements of the framework are possible with countries following three principles: equity (the protection of all vulnerable populations with no one left behind), inclusiveness (full engagement, equal participation, leadership, decision-making and ownership of all stakeholders using a multisectoral and transdisciplinary, One Health approach), and coherence (to reduce the fragmentation, competition and duplication and promote logical, consistent programmes aligned with international instruments). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:56:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de64bf17dd1f411c9d18dac893fbe48d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:56:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-de64bf17dd1f411c9d18dac893fbe48d2023-07-06T23:30:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082022-12-0171210.1136/bmjgh-2022-010242Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systemsThierno Balde0Freddy Mutoka Banza1Joseph Okeibunor2Julienne Ngoundoung Anoko3Opeayo Ogundiran4Belinda Louise Herring5Abdou Salam Gueye6Jayne Byakika-Tusiime7Boniface Oyugi8Helena O’Malley9Dick Chamla10Fiona Braka11Janet Kayita12Kabego Landry13Ephraim Nonso Ejiofor14Trevor M Kanyowa15Jerry-Jonas Mbasha16Kamara Rashidatu17Phionah Atuhebwe18Nicksy Gumede19Mamadou Zongo20Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoWHO Health Emergency Programme, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Cluster, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoRegional Office for Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa Hub, World Health Organization, Nairobi, KenyaEmergency Preparedness and Response, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoEmergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoOperation Support and Logistics, Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, CongoThe onset of the pandemic revealed the health system inequities and inadequate preparedness, especially in the African continent. Over the past months, African countries have ensured optimum pandemic response. However, there is still a need to build further resilient health systems that enhance response and transition from the acute phase of the pandemic to the recovery interpandemic/preparedness phase. Guided by the lessons learnt in the response and plausible pandemic scenarios, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has envisioned a transition framework that will optimise the response and enhance preparedness for future public health emergencies. The framework encompasses maintaining and consolidating the current response capacity but with a view to learning and reshaping them by harnessing the power of science, data and digital technologies, and research innovations. In addition, the framework reorients the health system towards primary healthcare and integrates response into routine care based on best practices/health system interventions. These elements are significant in building a resilient health system capable of addressing more effectively and more effectively future public health crises, all while maintaining an optimal level of essential public health functions. The key elements of the framework are possible with countries following three principles: equity (the protection of all vulnerable populations with no one left behind), inclusiveness (full engagement, equal participation, leadership, decision-making and ownership of all stakeholders using a multisectoral and transdisciplinary, One Health approach), and coherence (to reduce the fragmentation, competition and duplication and promote logical, consistent programmes aligned with international instruments).https://gh.bmj.com/content/7/12/e010242.full |
| spellingShingle | Thierno Balde Freddy Mutoka Banza Joseph Okeibunor Julienne Ngoundoung Anoko Opeayo Ogundiran Belinda Louise Herring Abdou Salam Gueye Jayne Byakika-Tusiime Boniface Oyugi Helena O’Malley Dick Chamla Fiona Braka Janet Kayita Kabego Landry Ephraim Nonso Ejiofor Trevor M Kanyowa Jerry-Jonas Mbasha Kamara Rashidatu Phionah Atuhebwe Nicksy Gumede Mamadou Zongo Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems BMJ Global Health |
| title | Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems |
| title_full | Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems |
| title_fullStr | Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems |
| title_short | Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems |
| title_sort | transitioning the covid 19 response in the who african region a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/7/12/e010242.full |
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