Readiness and early response to COVID-19: achievements, challenges and lessons learnt in Ethiopia
| Autor: | Faiqa K. Ebrahim, Aschalew Abayneh, Betty Lanyero, Shambel Habebe Watare, Boureima Hama Sambo, Abiy Girmay, Zewdu Assefa Edea, Mayur Lalji Mandalia, Emmanuel Onuche Musa, Aggrey Kaijuka Bategereza, Martin Chibueze Livinus, Ebba Abate |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Medicine (General)
Economic growth medicine.medical_specialty Declaration Psychological intervention Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 International Health Regulations R5-920 Incident management (ITSM) medicine Humans Personal protective equipment Contingency plan Practice Warning system Health Policy Public health public health Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health COVID-19 Public Health Practice Business Ethiopia |
| Zdroj: | BMJ Global Health BMJ Global Health, Vol 6, Iss 6 (2021) |
| ISSN: | 2059-7908 |
| Popis: | Declaration of the novel coronavirus disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern necessitated countries to get ready to respond. Here, we describe key achievements, challenges and lessons learnt during the readiness and early response to COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Readiness activities commenced as early as January 2020 with the activation of a national Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and COVID-19 Incident Management System (IMS) by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. The COVID-19 IMS conducted rapid risk assessments, developed scenario-based contingency plans, national COVID-19 guidelines and facilitated the enhancement of early warning and monitoring mechanisms. Early activation of a coordination mechanism and strengthening of detection and response capacities contributed to getting the country ready on time and mounting an effective early response. High-level political leadership and commitment led to focused efforts in coordination of response interventions. Health screening, mandatory 14-day quarantine and testing established for all international travellers arriving into the country slowed down the influx of travellers. The International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities in the country served as a good foundation for timely readiness and response. Leveraging on existing IHR capacities in the country built prior to COVID-19 helped slow down the importation and mitigated uncontrolled spread of the disease in the country. Challenges experienced included late operationalisation of a multisectoral coordination platform, shortage of personal protective equipment resulting from global disruption of importation and the huge influx of over 10 000 returnees from different COVID-19-affected countries over a short period of time with resultant constrain on response resources. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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