Open AccessImplementing COVID-19 response within the context of the broader health system: a proposed framework for Africa´s policy makers
Author(s) -
Abdu A. Adamu,
Rabiu Ibrahim Jalo,
Abdulkarim Ibrahim Dahiru,
Charles Shey Wiysonge
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.23574
Subject(s) - preparedness , pandemic , medicine , government (linguistics) , context (archaeology) , covid-19 , economic growth , sustainability , environmental health , political science , geography , linguistics , philosophy , disease , archaeology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , economics , ecology , biology
Heads of government in Africa responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up high-level task forces at continental and national levels to coordinate preparedness and response strategies, in a bid to mitigate the spread of this virus on the continent. However, the current strategy at both continental and national levels are narrowly focused on COVID-19 and this is not sustainable. This is because Africa has a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases and sustaining access to essential life-saving health services is also critical during this pandemic. Therefore, we call for a more holistic health systems-based model for COVID-19 outbreak response. We recommend that response strategies should be transitioned from vertical isolated programmes to a broad-based “time-bound” integrated health system intervention that links with existing health programmes as well as other government and non-governmental sectors.