Global health security: where is the data to inform health system strengthening?

Global health security: where is the data to inform health system strengthening?

Abimbola S, et al. BMJ Glob Health 2017;2:e000481. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000481 The Ebola outbreak in West Africa (2013– 2016) triggered a renewed interest and sense of urgency about global health security. A surge of reports and publications ensued, examining various aspects of emerging infectious disease outbreaks. In 2016, Olivero and colleagues published a biogeographical approach mapping ...

Improving global health, strengthening global security.

Global Health Actors Claim To Support Health System Strengthening—Is This Reality or Rhetoric?

The recent explosion in the number of global health initiatives has dramatically changed the landscape of public health and international aid. During an initial honeymoon period, these initiatives started implementing their disease-specific activities in low-income countries. But the honeymoon is over, and there is now an increasing realisation that such initiatives ignore a wider problem—exist...

Improving the use of health data for health system strengthening

BACKGROUND Good quality and timely data from health information systems are the foundation of all health systems. However, too often data sit in reports, on shelves or in databases and are not sufficiently utilised in policy and program development, improvement, strategic planning and advocacy. Without specific interventions aimed at improving the use of data produced by information systems, he...

Strengthening global health security by embedding the International Health Regulations requirements into national health systems

The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, as the overarching instrument for global health security, are designed to prevent and cope with major international public health threats. But poor implementation in countries hampers their effectiveness. In the wake of a number of major international health crises, such as the 2014 Ebola and 2016 Zika outbreaks, and the findings of a number of h...