Building National Health Security Through a Rapid Self-Assessment and Annual Operational Plan in Uganda, May to September 2021

Maureen Nabatanzi¹, Herbert Bakiika², Immaculate Nabukenya³, Mohammed Lamorde⁴, Justine Bukirwa⁵, Martha I Achan⁶, Peter A Babigumira⁷, Lydia Nakiire⁸, Timothy Lubanga⁹, Enid Mbabazi¹⁰, Roland B Taremwa¹¹, Harriet Mayinja¹², Anne Nakinsige¹³, Douglas K Makanga¹⁴, Allan Muruta¹⁵, Solome Okware¹⁶, Innocent Komakech¹⁷, Issa Makumbi¹⁸, Milton M Wetaka¹⁹, Joshua Kayiwa²⁰, Felix Ocom²¹, Alex R Ario²², Sandra Nabatanzi²³, Joseph Ojwang²⁴, Amy Boore²⁵, Rahel Yemanaberhan²⁶, Christopher T Lee²⁷, Ekwaro Obuku²⁸, Daniel Stowell²⁹

Affiliations

¹ Maureen Nabatanzi, MPHN, FETP, is an Epidemiologist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
² Herbert Bakiika MPH, is a One Health Specialist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
³ Immaculate Nabukenya, PhD, is an Epidemiologist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴ Mohammed Lamorde, MD, PhD, is Head of Department, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁵ Justine Bukirwa is a Technical Officer, Laboratory Systems, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁶ Martha I. Achan, LLB, LLM, is a Legal Advisor, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁷ Peter A. Babigumira, BPharm, is Technical Advisor, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁸ Lydia Nakiire, MPH, FETP, is an Epidemiologist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁹ Timothy Lubanga is Commissioner, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁰ Enid Mbabazi, MD, is a Medical Officer, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala, Uganda.
¹¹ Roland B. Taremwa is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala, Uganda.
¹² Harriet Mayinja is a Research Officer, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹³ Anne Nakinsige, MD, is Principal Epidemiologist, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁴ Douglas K. Makanga, MD, is a Medical Officer, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁵ Allan Muruta, MD, MPH, is Commissioner, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁶ Solome Okware, MD, MPH, is an Epidemiologist, World Health Emergencies Cluster, World Health Organization, Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁷ Innocent Komakech, MD, MPH, is an Emergency Readiness Officer, World Health Emergencies Cluster, World Health Organization, Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁸ Issa Makumbi, MD, MSc, is Director, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁹ Milton M. Wetaka is a Laboratory and Logistics Specialist, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁰ Joshua Kayiwa, MSc, is a Data Analyst, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²¹ Felix Ocom, MD, is Deputy Manager, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²² Alex R. Ario, MD, PhD, is Managing Director, Uganda National Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²³ Sandra Nabatanzi, MSC, is an Emergency Management and Response Specialist and Outbreak Coordinator, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁴ Joseph Ojwang, MD, MPH, is a Public Health Specialist, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁵ Amy Boore, MD, PhD, is Director, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁶ Rahel Yemanaberhan, MSc, is Regional Technical Advisor (East Africa), Resolve to Save Lives Ethiopia Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
²⁷ Christopher T. Lee, MD, MPH, is Director of Global Preparedness and Response, Resolve to Save Lives, New York, NY.
²⁸ Ekwaro Obuku, MD, PhD, is Senior Technical Advisor, Data and Policy, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁹ Daniel Stowell, MPH, is a Global Health Security Specialist, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

PMID: 36940291
PMCID: PMC10701509
DOI: 10.1089/hs.2022.0107

Building National Health Security Through a Rapid Self-Assessment and Annual Operational Plan in Uganda, May to September 2021

Maureen Nabatanzi et al. Health Secur. 2023 Mar-Apr.

. 2023 Mar-Apr;21(2):130-140.

doi: 10.1089/hs.2022.0107. Epub 2023 Mar 20.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Maureen Nabatanzi, MPHN, FETP, is an Epidemiologist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
² Herbert Bakiika MPH, is a One Health Specialist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
³ Immaculate Nabukenya, PhD, is an Epidemiologist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴ Mohammed Lamorde, MD, PhD, is Head of Department, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁵ Justine Bukirwa is a Technical Officer, Laboratory Systems, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁶ Martha I. Achan, LLB, LLM, is a Legal Advisor, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁷ Peter A. Babigumira, BPharm, is Technical Advisor, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁸ Lydia Nakiire, MPH, FETP, is an Epidemiologist, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
⁹ Timothy Lubanga is Commissioner, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁰ Enid Mbabazi, MD, is a Medical Officer, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala, Uganda.
¹¹ Roland B. Taremwa is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala, Uganda.
¹² Harriet Mayinja is a Research Officer, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹³ Anne Nakinsige, MD, is Principal Epidemiologist, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁴ Douglas K. Makanga, MD, is a Medical Officer, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁵ Allan Muruta, MD, MPH, is Commissioner, Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies Department, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁶ Solome Okware, MD, MPH, is an Epidemiologist, World Health Emergencies Cluster, World Health Organization, Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁷ Innocent Komakech, MD, MPH, is an Emergency Readiness Officer, World Health Emergencies Cluster, World Health Organization, Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁸ Issa Makumbi, MD, MSc, is Director, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
¹⁹ Milton M. Wetaka is a Laboratory and Logistics Specialist, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁰ Joshua Kayiwa, MSc, is a Data Analyst, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²¹ Felix Ocom, MD, is Deputy Manager, Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²² Alex R. Ario, MD, PhD, is Managing Director, Uganda National Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
²³ Sandra Nabatanzi, MSC, is an Emergency Management and Response Specialist and Outbreak Coordinator, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁴ Joseph Ojwang, MD, MPH, is a Public Health Specialist, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁵ Amy Boore, MD, PhD, is Director, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda Country Office, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁶ Rahel Yemanaberhan, MSc, is Regional Technical Advisor (East Africa), Resolve to Save Lives Ethiopia Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
²⁷ Christopher T. Lee, MD, MPH, is Director of Global Preparedness and Response, Resolve to Save Lives, New York, NY.
²⁸ Ekwaro Obuku, MD, PhD, is Senior Technical Advisor, Data and Policy, Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
²⁹ Daniel Stowell, MPH, is a Global Health Security Specialist, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

PMID: 36940291
PMCID: PMC10701509
DOI: 10.1089/hs.2022.0107

Abstract

Uganda established a National Action Plan for Health Security in 2019, following a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of International Health Regulations (2005) capacities in 2017. The action plan enhanced national health security awareness, but implementation efforts were affected by limited funding, excess of activities, and challenges related to monitoring and evaluation. To improve implementation, Uganda conducted a multisectoral health security self-assessment in 2021 using the second edition of the JEE tool and developed a 1-year operational plan. From 2017 to 2021, Uganda's composite ReadyScore improved by 20%, with improvement in 13 of the 19 technical areas. Indicator scores showing limited capacity declined from 30% to 20%, and indicators with no capacity declined from 10% to 2%. More indicators had developed (47% vs 40%), demonstrated (29% vs 20%), and sustained (2% vs 0%) capacities in 2021 compared with 2017. Using the self-assessment JEE scores, 72 specific activities from the International Health Regulations (2005) benchmarks tool were selected for inclusion in a 1-year operational plan (2021-2022). In contrast to the 264 broad activities in the 5-year national action plan, the operational plan prioritized a small number of activities to enable sectors to focus limited resources on implementation. While certain capacities improved before and during implementation of the action plan, countries may benefit from using short-term operational planning to develop realistic and actionable health security plans to improve health security capacities.

Keywords: International Health Regulations; Joint External Evaluation; National Action Planning for Health Security; Operational planning; Public health preparedness/response; Self-assessment.

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Figures

**Figure 1.**
Survey results on Uganda s ability to determine health security capacities before and after the self-assessment and operational planning workshop.

**Figure 2.**
Survey results on Uganda s ability to select activities to increase health security capacity and JEE scores before and after the self-assessment and operational planning workshop

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Building National Health Security Through a Rapid Self-Assessment and Annual Operational Plan in Uganda, May to September 2021

Affiliations

Building National Health Security Through a Rapid Self-Assessment and Annual Operational Plan in Uganda, May to September 2021

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Figures

References

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical