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The emergency medical teams initiative in the WHO African region: a review of the development and progress over the past 7 years

Balde, Thierno, Oyugi, Boniface, Mbasha, Jerry-Jonas, Kamara, Rashidatu, Martinez-Monterrey, Lazaro Gilberto, Relan, Pryanka, Lajolo, Camila, Bompangue, Didier, Fortin, Ann, Okeibunor, Joseph, and others. (2024) The emergency medical teams initiative in the WHO African region: a review of the development and progress over the past 7 years. Frontiers in Public Health, 12 . Article Number 1387034. ISSN 2296-2565. (doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1387034) (KAR id:106522)

Abstract

Background: The WHO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Initiative coordinates the deployment of qualified medical teams who promptly respond to public health emergencies (PHEs) and provide quality service during emergencies whilst strengthening capacity. Globally, 40 EMTs have been classified between 2016 and the present (as of the writing of this article in December 2023) and are from across all the WHO regions except the WHO Africa Region (AFRO). However, WHO Africa has prioritised the implementation of EMTs in 10 priority countries to address the public health emergencies (PHEs) affecting the region. Objective: This article describes the development and progress of national EMTs in the WHO African Region over the past 7 years and elucidates the main lessons learned and the complexity and challenges in the process. Methods: This study employed a case study approach because of its appropriateness in examining a complex social phenomenon in a socio-political context in depth, using multiple lenses simultaneously. Data and information were obtained through document reviews and key informant interviews (KIIs) (n = 5) with the members of the EMT Initiative on shared field experiences. Data were systematically analysed using the Stages of Implementation Completion (SIC) framework, and the lessons learnt were presented using components of a framework from Adini et al. Results: The Initiative commenced in the WHO African Region following its launch in December 2017 in Senegal. The assessments of the concept’s engagement (involved learning and deciding), feasibility (reviewing expectation and capacity), and readiness planning (collaborating and preparing) showed that the context-specific (African context) challenges, lessons from different emergency response actions mainly guided the Initiative’s pre-implementation phase in the region and prompted the WHO emergency leadership on the urgency and need for the EMT concept in the region. The assessment of the implementation processes showed progress in key areas, with staff demonstrating improved competency, EMT services maintaining high fidelity, effective consultation launching critical components, and ongoing services providing successful support and monitoring. Creating the N-EMTs and revitalising the EMT concept required an aligned strategy with other regional emergency programmes and a futuristic vision. Proposed sustainability and governance components include creating N-EMT, developing a coordination structure, collaborating with partners, and finalising the N-EMT. Conclusion: The Initiative is an imperative component that would allow better-targeted management of health emergencies in the region. The continuous refinement of the EMT initiative is crucial. There is a need to work on additional components, such as a context-specific framework for collaborations and partnerships that would enhance deployment and procurement modalities and the complementarity between other regional initiatives to improve the work. Emphasis should be placed on strengthening local health systems, enhancing training and capacity-building programmes, and fostering regional and international collaborations. Additionally, sustainable funding and resource allocation are essential to ensure the resilience of EMTs in the African region and their long-term success.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1387034
Uncontrolled keywords: emergency medical teams, health emergencies, public health, WHO African region, COVID-19
Subjects: H Social Sciences
R Medicine
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Funders: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (https://ror.org/01rz37c55)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 12 Jul 2024 15:08 UTC
Last Modified: 05 Nov 2024 13:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/106522 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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