Open AccessLessons Learned From a Large Cross-Border Field Simulation Exercise to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness in East Africa, 2019
Author(s) -
Hilary Kagume Njenge,
Frederik Copper,
Allan Bell,
Denis Charles,
Lisa A. Müllen,
Cindy Chiu de Vázquez,
Timothy Wesonga,
James Nyongesa Wakhungu,
Michael Katende,
Edward Areuse Komba,
Pauline Nandako Nafula Kituyi,
Vida Mmbaga,
Toba Nguvila,
Mary Archson Makata,
Harrison Chinyuka,
Stéphane De La Rocque,
Rajesh Sreedharan,
Mary Stephen,
Landry Ndriko Mayigane,
Grace Saguti,
Nollascus Ganda,
John Gachohi,
Jackline Mosinya Nyaberi,
Damascent Kabanda,
Fahari Marwa,
Athman Mwatondo,
Geoffrey Gitau Mukora,
Justino Mutisya Muinde,
Stephen Komora,
Charles Msangi,
Benezeth Lutege Malinda,
Vones Uiso,
Charles Mwaipopo,
Thomas D. Dulu,
Florian Gehre,
Muna Affara,
Florian Mutabazi,
David Ouma Balikowa,
Simon Wathigo Kiarie,
James W. Kivuva,
Caroline Wambua,
Willy Were,
Patrick Marabu Nyakundi,
Lyndah Makayotto,
Mary Mukami Njoroge,
Geoffrey Misati Kebaki,
Emanuel Senyaeli Swai,
Enock Kasyombe Mwakyusa,
George Kauki,
Folorunso Oludayo Fasina,
Kenneth Byoona,
Solomon Fisseha Woldetsadik,
Mpairwe Allan,
Julius Wekesa,
Miriam Nanyunja,
Freddy Banza Mutoka,
David Knaggs,
Ngoy Nsenga,
Ali Ahmed Yahaya,
Ambrose Talisuna,
Abbas Omaar,
Zheng Jie Marc Ho,
Nirmal Kandel,
Stella Chungong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
health security
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2326-5108
pISSN - 2326-5094
DOI - 10.1089/hs.2020.0162
Subject(s) - preparedness , emergency management , international health regulations , scope (computer science) , capacity building , business , public health , civil defense , emergency response , public relations , economic growth , medicine , political science , environmental resource management , operations management , medical emergency , nursing , engineering , covid-19 , disease , computer science , environmental science , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , economics , programming language
Field simulation exercises (FSXs) require substantial time, resources, and organizational experience to plan and implement and are less commonly undertaken than drills or tabletop exercises. Despite this, FSXs provide an opportunity to test the full scope of operational capacities, including coordination across sectors. From June 11 to 14, 2019, the East African Community Secretariat conducted a cross-border FSX at the Namanga One Stop Border Post between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. The World Health Organization Department of Health Security Preparedness was the technical lead responsible for developing and coordinating the exercise. The purpose of the FSX was to assess and further enhance multisectoral outbreak preparedness and response in the East Africa Region, using a One Health approach. Participants included staff from the transport, police and customs, public health, animal health, and food inspection sectors. This was the first FSX of this scale, magnitude, and complexity to be conducted in East Africa for the purpose of strengthening emergency preparedness capacities. The FSX provided an opportunity for individual learning and national capacity strengthening in emergency management and response coordination. In this article, we describe lessons learned and propose recommendations relevant to FSX design, management, and organization to inform future field exercises.