Dalia Samhouri1, Kashef Ijaz2, Arash Rashidian3, Stella Chungong4, Antoine Flahault5, Suzanne M Babich6, Jaouad Mahjour7. 1. WHO Health Emergency Programme (WHE), WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt; Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States of America. 3. Division of Information, Evidence & Research, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt. 4. WHO Health Emergency Programme (WHE), WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. 5. Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland. 6. Department of Health Policy and Management at Indiana University, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, United States of America. 7. Programme Management, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Joint External Evaluation (JEE) was developed as a new model of peer-to-peer expert external evaluations of IHR capacities using standardized approaches. AIMS: This study aimed to consolidate findings of these assessments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and assess their significance. METHODS: Analysis of the data were conducted for 14 countries completing JEE in the Region. Mean JEE score for each of the 19 technical areas and for the overall technical areas were calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to assess correlations with key health, socio-economic and health system indicators. RESULTS: Mean JEE scores varied substantially across technical areas. The cumulative mean JEE (mean of indicator scores related to that technical area) was 3 (range: 1-4). Antimicrobial resistance, Biosecurity and Biosafety indicators obtained the lowest scores. Medical countermeasures, personnel deployment and linking public health with security capacities had the highest cumulative mean score of 4 (range: 2-5). JEE scores correlated with most of the key indicators examined. Countries with better health financing system, health service coverage and health status generally had higher JEE scores. Adolescent fertility rate, neonatal mortality ratio and net primary school enrollment ratio were primary factors within a country's overall JEE score. CONCLUSIONS: An integrated multisectoral approach, including well-planned cross-cutting health financing system and coverage, are critical to address the key gaps identified by JEEs in order to ensure regional and global health security.
BACKGROUND: Joint External Evaluation (JEE) was developed as a new model of peer-to-peer expert external evaluations of IHR capacities using standardized approaches. AIMS: This study aimed to consolidate findings of these assessments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and assess their significance. METHODS: Analysis of the data were conducted for 14 countries completing JEE in the Region. Mean JEE score for each of the 19 technical areas and for the overall technical areas were calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to assess correlations with key health, socio-economic and health system indicators. RESULTS: Mean JEE scores varied substantially across technical areas. The cumulative mean JEE (mean of indicator scores related to that technical area) was 3 (range: 1-4). Antimicrobial resistance, Biosecurity and Biosafety indicators obtained the lowest scores. Medical countermeasures, personnel deployment and linking public health with security capacities had the highest cumulative mean score of 4 (range: 2-5). JEE scores correlated with most of the key indicators examined. Countries with better health financing system, health service coverage and health status generally had higher JEE scores. Adolescent fertility rate, neonatal mortality ratio and net primary school enrollment ratio were primary factors within a country's overall JEE score. CONCLUSIONS: An integrated multisectoral approach, including well-planned cross-cutting health financing system and coverage, are critical to address the key gaps identified by JEEs in order to ensure regional and global health security.
Authors: Kashef Ijaz; Henry C Baggett; Audrey E Hu; Robert Fontaine; Reina Turcios-Ruiz; Aisha A Abedi; Seymour Williams; Angela Hilmers; Eni Njoh; Elizabeth Bell; Carl Reddy Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-01-10 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Osman M Elmahal; Ali Abdullah; Manal K Elzalabany; Huda Haidar Anan; Dalia Samhouri; Richard John Brennan Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2022-06