Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience
Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant morbidity and mortality in Africa, in addition to other socio-economic consequences. Across the continent, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) played several roles in supporting national, regional, and global response to...
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2024-11-01
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| Series: | Globalization and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-024-01087-z |
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| author | Rawlance Ndejjo Honore Kabwebwe Mitonga Woldekidan Amde Grace Biyinzika Lubega Adamson S. Muula Damen Haile Mariam Steven N. Kabwama Sean Mark Patrick Desderius Haufiku Maryam Amour Marc Bosonkie Trasias Mukama Segun Bello Duah Dwomoh Glory Mbe Egom Nja Douglas Bulafu Dabo Galgalo Halake Gasto Frumence Mamadou Makhtar Mbacke Leye Ndasilohenda Katangolo-Nakashwa Samson Wakuma Abaya Issakha Diallo Landry Egbende Netsanet Worku Oumar Bassoum Branly Mbunga David Musoke Hussein Mohamed Ibrahima Seck Julius Fobil Suzanne N. Kiwanuka Olufunmilayo I. Fawole Mala Ali Mapatano Tobias Alfven Lucy Gilson Jacinta Victoria Syombua Muinde Harm van Marwijk Uta Lehmann Niko Speybroeck Margaret Kaseje Rhoda K. Wanyenze |
| author_facet | Rawlance Ndejjo Honore Kabwebwe Mitonga Woldekidan Amde Grace Biyinzika Lubega Adamson S. Muula Damen Haile Mariam Steven N. Kabwama Sean Mark Patrick Desderius Haufiku Maryam Amour Marc Bosonkie Trasias Mukama Segun Bello Duah Dwomoh Glory Mbe Egom Nja Douglas Bulafu Dabo Galgalo Halake Gasto Frumence Mamadou Makhtar Mbacke Leye Ndasilohenda Katangolo-Nakashwa Samson Wakuma Abaya Issakha Diallo Landry Egbende Netsanet Worku Oumar Bassoum Branly Mbunga David Musoke Hussein Mohamed Ibrahima Seck Julius Fobil Suzanne N. Kiwanuka Olufunmilayo I. Fawole Mala Ali Mapatano Tobias Alfven Lucy Gilson Jacinta Victoria Syombua Muinde Harm van Marwijk Uta Lehmann Niko Speybroeck Margaret Kaseje Rhoda K. Wanyenze |
| author_sort | Rawlance Ndejjo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant morbidity and mortality in Africa, in addition to other socio-economic consequences. Across the continent, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) played several roles in supporting national, regional, and global response to the pandemic. Following a published and grey literature search, this paper reviews and analyses the contribution of SPHs in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contribution of the Schools of Public Health SPH faculty in most countries contributed their expertise through COVID-19 task forces and advisory committees where they guided and supported decision-making. Faculty also supported the identification, review, and synthesis of rapidly evolving global and local evidence, adapting it to the local context to guide policy decisions. Through research, SPHs contributed to a better understanding of the disease epidemiology, response interventions, as well as prevention and control measures. SPHs engaged in training field epidemiologists, frontline health workers, and district response teams. SPH staff, students and field epidemiology trainees also supported field activities including surveillance, contact tracing, as well as managing quarantine facilities and points of entry. SPHs engaged in public education and awareness-raising initiatives to share information and dispel misinformation. In partnership with other stakeholders, SPHs also developed important innovations and technologies. Conclusion SPHs are a critical pillar for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, that support health systems with important functions. To further enhance their capacity, efforts to improve coordination of SPHs, strengthen collaboration among schools, harmonize training and curricula, and enhance capacity for advanced research are needed. There is also a need to bridge the inequities in capacity and resources that exist among SPHs across regions and countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88f5d0db6d724fc5b1865fb6a70f21a6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-8603 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Globalization and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-88f5d0db6d724fc5b1865fb6a70f21a62024-11-24T12:47:35ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032024-11-0120111010.1186/s12992-024-01087-zSchools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experienceRawlance Ndejjo0Honore Kabwebwe Mitonga1Woldekidan Amde2Grace Biyinzika Lubega3Adamson S. Muula4Damen Haile Mariam5Steven N. Kabwama6Sean Mark Patrick7Desderius Haufiku8Maryam Amour9Marc Bosonkie10Trasias Mukama11Segun Bello12Duah Dwomoh13Glory Mbe Egom Nja14Douglas Bulafu15Dabo Galgalo Halake16Gasto Frumence17Mamadou Makhtar Mbacke Leye18Ndasilohenda Katangolo-Nakashwa19Samson Wakuma Abaya20Issakha Diallo21Landry Egbende22Netsanet Worku23Oumar Bassoum24Branly Mbunga25David Musoke26Hussein Mohamed27Ibrahima Seck28Julius Fobil29Suzanne N. Kiwanuka30Olufunmilayo I. Fawole31Mala Ali Mapatano32Tobias Alfven33Lucy Gilson34Jacinta Victoria Syombua Muinde35Harm van Marwijk36Uta Lehmann37Niko Speybroeck38Margaret Kaseje39Rhoda K. Wanyenze40Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversitySchool of Nursing and Public Health, University of NamibiaSchool of Public Health, University of the Western CapeDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Community and Environmental Health, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health SciencesDepartment of Health Systems Management & Health Policy, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversitySchool of Health Systems and Public Health, University of PretoriaSchool of Nursing and Public Health, University of NamibiaDepartment of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of KinshasaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of GhanaDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of CalabarDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversitySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Umma UniversitySchool of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, University Cheikh Anta DiopSchool of Nursing and Public Health, University of NamibiaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, University Cheikh Anta DiopDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of KinshasaInstitute of Public Health, University of GondarDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, University Cheikh Anta DiopDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of KinshasaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, University Cheikh Anta DiopDepartment of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of GhanaDepartment of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of KinshasaDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetSchool of Public Health, University of Cape TownInstitute of Health and Society, University of OsloDepartment of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex University Medical SchoolSchool of Public Health, University of the Western CapeInstitute of Health and Society (IRSS), Louvain University (UCLouvain)Tropical Institute of Community Health and DevelopmentDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityAbstract Background The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant morbidity and mortality in Africa, in addition to other socio-economic consequences. Across the continent, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) played several roles in supporting national, regional, and global response to the pandemic. Following a published and grey literature search, this paper reviews and analyses the contribution of SPHs in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contribution of the Schools of Public Health SPH faculty in most countries contributed their expertise through COVID-19 task forces and advisory committees where they guided and supported decision-making. Faculty also supported the identification, review, and synthesis of rapidly evolving global and local evidence, adapting it to the local context to guide policy decisions. Through research, SPHs contributed to a better understanding of the disease epidemiology, response interventions, as well as prevention and control measures. SPHs engaged in training field epidemiologists, frontline health workers, and district response teams. SPH staff, students and field epidemiology trainees also supported field activities including surveillance, contact tracing, as well as managing quarantine facilities and points of entry. SPHs engaged in public education and awareness-raising initiatives to share information and dispel misinformation. In partnership with other stakeholders, SPHs also developed important innovations and technologies. Conclusion SPHs are a critical pillar for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, that support health systems with important functions. To further enhance their capacity, efforts to improve coordination of SPHs, strengthen collaboration among schools, harmonize training and curricula, and enhance capacity for advanced research are needed. There is also a need to bridge the inequities in capacity and resources that exist among SPHs across regions and countries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-024-01087-zCOVID-19Schools of public healthAfricaTrainingResearch |
| spellingShingle | Rawlance Ndejjo Honore Kabwebwe Mitonga Woldekidan Amde Grace Biyinzika Lubega Adamson S. Muula Damen Haile Mariam Steven N. Kabwama Sean Mark Patrick Desderius Haufiku Maryam Amour Marc Bosonkie Trasias Mukama Segun Bello Duah Dwomoh Glory Mbe Egom Nja Douglas Bulafu Dabo Galgalo Halake Gasto Frumence Mamadou Makhtar Mbacke Leye Ndasilohenda Katangolo-Nakashwa Samson Wakuma Abaya Issakha Diallo Landry Egbende Netsanet Worku Oumar Bassoum Branly Mbunga David Musoke Hussein Mohamed Ibrahima Seck Julius Fobil Suzanne N. Kiwanuka Olufunmilayo I. Fawole Mala Ali Mapatano Tobias Alfven Lucy Gilson Jacinta Victoria Syombua Muinde Harm van Marwijk Uta Lehmann Niko Speybroeck Margaret Kaseje Rhoda K. Wanyenze Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience Globalization and Health COVID-19 Schools of public health Africa Training Research |
| title | Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience |
| title_full | Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience |
| title_fullStr | Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience |
| title_short | Schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response: the Africa COVID-19 experience |
| title_sort | schools of public health as a cornerstone for pandemic preparedness and response the africa covid 19 experience |
| topic | COVID-19 Schools of public health Africa Training Research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-024-01087-z |
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