Optimizing pandemic preparedness and response through health information systems: lessons learned from Ebola to COVID-19

Lal, Arush, Ashworth, Henry C., Dada, Sara, Hoemeke, Laura and Tambo, Ernest (2020) Optimizing pandemic preparedness and response through health information systems: lessons learned from Ebola to COVID-19. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 16 (1). 333 - 340. ISSN 1935-7893

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Abstract

Strengthening health systems and maintaining essential service delivery during health emergencies response is critical for early detection and diagnosis, prompt treatment, and effective control of pandemics, including the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Health information systems (HIS) developed during recent Ebola outbreaks in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provided opportunities to collect, analyze, and distribute data to inform both day-to-day and long-term policy decisions on outbreak preparedness. As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the globe, HIS and related technological advancements remain vital for effective and sustained data sharing, contact tracing, mapping and monitoring, community risk sensitization and engagement, preventive education, and timely preparedness and response activities. In reviewing literature of how HIS could have further supported mitigation of these Ebola outbreaks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, three key areas were identified: Governance and coordination, health systems infrastructure and resources, and community engagement. In this concept paper, we outline scalable HIS lessons from recent Ebola outbreaks and early COVID-19 responses along these three domains, synthesizing recommendations to offer clear, evidence-based approaches on how to leverage HIS to strengthen the current pandemic response and foster community health systems resilience moving forward.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-m...
Additional Information:	© 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.
Divisions:	Health Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	28 Feb 2022 13:06
Last Modified:	30 Apr 2024 04:06
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/113862

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