Disaster Risk Management: A Strategy for the Health Sector in the African Region

The WHO African Region continues to be challenged by frequent natural and man-made emergencies causing injury; death; population displacement; destruction of health facilities and disruption of services; often leading to disasters. The frequency and magnitude of emergencies and disasters have increased since the adoption; in 1997; of the Regional Strategy on Emergency Preparedness and Response. In addition several global initiatives developed since 2005; including the World Health Assembly resolution WHA64.10 (Strengthening national health emergency and disaster management capacities and resilience of health systems) adopted in 2011; have focused on disaster risk management (DRM) as the approach to containing and minimizing the impact of emergencies. WHO has recognized the need for Member States to formulate policies and legislation; and develop capacities in order to institutionalize DRM in the health sector. An assessment conducted in 2011 revealed that most countries in the Region lack these policies; capacities and legislation. This regional strategy proposes that Member States strengthen DRM by developing appropriate laws and policies; building adequate capacities in ministries of health; assessing and mapping the risks from a health sector perspective; assessing the level of safety of; and applying standards to; hospitals and other health facilities; building community resilience; strengthening preparedness; developing national standards for response; and strengthening evidence and knowledge management. This will ensure that the health system has been prepared and will be able to provide adequate health sector response to emergencies and reduce their likelihood of becoming disasters

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the African Region

The International Health Regulations (IRH; 2005) are a legally binding international instrument for preventing and controlling the spread of diseases internationally while avoiding unnecessary interference with international travel and trade. Under the IHRs that were adopted on 23 May 2005 and entered into force on 15 June 2007; Member States have agreed to comply with the rules therein in order to contribute to regional and international public health security. Obligations also include the establishment of IHR National Focal Points (NFP) defined as a national centre designated by each Member State; and accessible at all times for communication with WHO IHR Contact Points. Furthermore; Member States were requested to designate experts for the IHR roster; enact appropriate legal and administrative instruments and mobilize resources through collaboration and partnership building. The Fifty-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa called for the implementation of the IHR in the context of the regional Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy considering the commonalities and synergies between IHR (2005) and the IDSR. They both aim at preventing and responding to public health threats and/or events of national and international concern. This document discusses the issues and challenges and proposes actions that Member States should take to ensure the required IHR core capacities are acquired in the WHO African Region

Laboratory Capacity in 2012 for Diagnosis of Epidemic Prone Diseases in the Context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the WHO African Region

This paper provides the status of laboratory capacity for diagnosis of epidemic prone diseases in the context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) in 46 countries in the WHO African Region as of end of 2012 through self-assessment questionnaires. The findings from this assessment revealed that 98 (45/46) of the countries have the capacity for isolation; identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of common bacterial causes of enteric diseases and meningitis in the Region. Forty three countries performed standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for confirming suspected cases of pathogens such as Morbillivirus responsible of measles through the detection of specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and 30 countries had at least polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capacity for detection of influenza viruses. However; the number of countries with an appropriate department of virology providing comprehensive diagnostic services is still limited especially for dangerous viral pathogens requiring high-level containment facilities. The collection and analysis of critical information on the existing diagnostic capacity were used to propose key recommendations for strengthening the laboratory confirmation of outbreaks in line with the IDSR Strategy and the International Health Regulations (IHR; 2005). The proposed key actions were focused in the following areas: high-level advocacy for country ownership; human resource development; laboratory space and equipment; quality assurance and laboratory networking