Presidential One Health Era for COVID-19

By Musa Sekamatte

HEALTH  COVID-19  

As I write this article, there are over 2.5 million coronavirus (COVID-19) confirmed cases globally and over 150,000 related deaths that have been reported worldwide. Countries are working with all available resources, private sector entities and partners in mobilising laboratory, surveillance and other response support. 

There is a lot of multi-disciplinary science being reviewed about similar like illnesses to inform the latest knowledge depth on better practices of containing COVID-19. For example, a published study on aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 suggests that the virus can remain viable in aerosols for up to three hours, copper for up to four hours, cardboard for up to 24 hours and plastics and steel for up to four days. This is not any different from COVID-19. This shows that there is a lot of work to be done and it would be too early to triumph though our expectations to this effect are high spirited.

In another paper, an epidemic-modelling report indicated that a combination of case isolation, home quarantine and social distancing of people aged 70 years plus could reduce peak critical care demand by two-thirds and halve the number of deaths. So, no single sector alone can address the challenges of this pandemic hence call for collaborative efforts.  From the above research, we see One Health (science and social-economic) multi-disciplinary aspects. All these research entities can only work out if there is a Multisectoral Approach (MSA). 

MSA is the deliberate co-ordination and collaboration among various stakeholder groups, for example, government ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organisations and private sector entities. Continual understanding of MSA points out that one of the major advantages is boosting usage of resources by doing away with replication of inputs and activities which tremendously improve programme effectiveness and efficiency. President Yoweri Museveni has demonstrated MSA and promoted engagement of multiple sectors, for example, public health, security, private sector, education, trade, transport, information technology, legislature, local government and many others qualifying his new systematic approach effective hence I term it as the Presidential disease surveillance and co-ordination barometer (PDSCB). This is a new system of co-ordination aimed at control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Particularly for this pandemic, this model has got partners leveraging on the expertise, knowledge, reach and resources in a combined and varied effort towards the COVID-19 struggle. 

PDSCB has further shown his willingness at the highest leadership level and mandate at the policy level deem necessary to plan with the bigger task force and execute very successful multi-sectoral co-ordination in the fight against COVID-19. 

PDSCB has helped to ease identification of health issues pertaining to public health helping in pooling of resources from both public and private sector thus formulating the common objectives of the response.

PDSCB has further demonstrated development of institutional mechanism to address the COVID-19 as it has standardised this process.

The PDSCB has revealed that all major stakeholders share a common perspective and vision in execution of the COVID-19 preparedness and response activities. 

Therefore, PDSCB, if continued to be implemented, will eventually improve public health outcomes even when there are a number of challenges due to the size of the population and its wide variations in the geographical setup and other countries should actually adopt this model to effectively manage this pandemic 

The writer is senior medical epidemiologist / national one health coordinator / MSA consultant