Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era

Abstract Background In November 2012, the 62nd session of the Regional Committee for Africa adopted a comprehensive 10-year regional strategy for health disaster risk management (DRM). This was intended to operationalize the World Health Organization’s core commitments to health DRM and the Hyogo Fr...

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Main Authors: Olushayo Olu, Abdulmumini Usman, Lucien Manga, Stella Anyangwe, Kalula Kalambay, Ngoy Nsenga, Solomon Woldetsadik, Craig Hampton, Francois Nguessan, Angela Benson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2016-08-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3390-5
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spelling doaj-e7639e64070a4375988b74a62f11213c2020-11-25T00:08:40ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-08-011611810.1186/s12889-016-3390-5Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action eraOlushayo Olu0Abdulmumini Usman1Lucien Manga2Stella Anyangwe3Kalula Kalambay4Ngoy Nsenga5Solomon Woldetsadik6Craig Hampton7Francois Nguessan8Angela Benson9WHO Country OfficeWHO Country OfficeWHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO)School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of PretoriaInternational Public Health Disaster Risk Management ConsultantWHO Intercountry Support Team for Western AfricaWHO Country OfficeWHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO)WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO)International Public Health and Disaster Risk Management ConsultantAbstract Background In November 2012, the 62nd session of the Regional Committee for Africa adopted a comprehensive 10-year regional strategy for health disaster risk management (DRM). This was intended to operationalize the World Health Organization’s core commitments to health DRM and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015 in the health sectors of the 47 African member states. This study reported the formative evaluation of the strategy, including evaluation of the progress in achieving nine targets (expected to be achieved incrementally by 2014, 2017, and 2022). We proposed recommendations for accelerating the strategy’s implementation within the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Methods This study used a mixed methods design. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted along with a review of available reports and information on the implementation of the strategy. A review meeting to discuss and finalize the study findings was also conducted. Results In total, 58 % of the countries assessed had established DRM coordination units within their Ministry of Health (MOH). Most had dedicated MOH DRM staff (88 %) and national-level DRM committees (71 %). Only 14 (58 %) of the countries had health DRM subcommittees using a multi-sectoral disaster risk reduction platform. Less than 40 % had conducted surveys such as disaster risk analysis, hospital safety index, and mapping of health resources availability. Key challenges in implementing the strategy were inadequate political will and commitment resulting in poor funding for health DRM, weak health systems, and a dearth of scientific evidence on mainstreaming DRM and disaster risk reduction in longer-term health system development programs. Conclusions Implementation of the strategy was behind anticipated targets despite some positive outcomes, such as an increase in the number of countries with health DRM incorporated in their national health legislation, MOH DRM units, and functional health sub-committees within national DRM committees. Health system-based, multi-sectoral, and people-centred approaches are proposed to accelerate implementation of the strategy in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3390-5HealthDisaster risk managementAfricaHealth systemHyogo Framework for ActionDisaster risk reduction
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Olushayo Olu
Abdulmumini Usman
Lucien Manga
Stella Anyangwe
Kalula Kalambay
Ngoy Nsenga
Solomon Woldetsadik
Craig Hampton
Francois Nguessan
Angela Benson
spellingShingle Olushayo Olu
Abdulmumini Usman
Lucien Manga
Stella Anyangwe
Kalula Kalambay
Ngoy Nsenga
Solomon Woldetsadik
Craig Hampton
Francois Nguessan
Angela Benson
Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era
BMC Public Health
Health
Disaster risk management
Africa
Health system
Hyogo Framework for Action
Disaster risk reduction
author_facet Olushayo Olu
Abdulmumini Usman
Lucien Manga
Stella Anyangwe
Kalula Kalambay
Ngoy Nsenga
Solomon Woldetsadik
Craig Hampton
Francois Nguessan
Angela Benson
author_sort Olushayo Olu
title Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era
title_short Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era
title_full Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era
title_fullStr Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era
title_full_unstemmed Strengthening health disaster risk management in Africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era
title_sort strengthening health disaster risk management in africa: multi-sectoral and people-centred approaches are required in the post-hyogo framework of action era
publisher BMC
series BMC Public Health
issn 1471-2458
publishDate 2016-08-01
description Abstract Background In November 2012, the 62nd session of the Regional Committee for Africa adopted a comprehensive 10-year regional strategy for health disaster risk management (DRM). This was intended to operationalize the World Health Organization’s core commitments to health DRM and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015 in the health sectors of the 47 African member states. This study reported the formative evaluation of the strategy, including evaluation of the progress in achieving nine targets (expected to be achieved incrementally by 2014, 2017, and 2022). We proposed recommendations for accelerating the strategy’s implementation within the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Methods This study used a mixed methods design. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted along with a review of available reports and information on the implementation of the strategy. A review meeting to discuss and finalize the study findings was also conducted. Results In total, 58 % of the countries assessed had established DRM coordination units within their Ministry of Health (MOH). Most had dedicated MOH DRM staff (88 %) and national-level DRM committees (71 %). Only 14 (58 %) of the countries had health DRM subcommittees using a multi-sectoral disaster risk reduction platform. Less than 40 % had conducted surveys such as disaster risk analysis, hospital safety index, and mapping of health resources availability. Key challenges in implementing the strategy were inadequate political will and commitment resulting in poor funding for health DRM, weak health systems, and a dearth of scientific evidence on mainstreaming DRM and disaster risk reduction in longer-term health system development programs. Conclusions Implementation of the strategy was behind anticipated targets despite some positive outcomes, such as an increase in the number of countries with health DRM incorporated in their national health legislation, MOH DRM units, and functional health sub-committees within national DRM committees. Health system-based, multi-sectoral, and people-centred approaches are proposed to accelerate implementation of the strategy in the post-Hyogo Framework of Action era.
topic Health
Disaster risk management
Africa
Health system
Hyogo Framework for Action
Disaster risk reduction
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3390-5
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