Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
Abstract The 2014 Ebola outbreak has highlighted the importance of international preparedness and coordinated epidemic response efforts across borders and within countries to properly address public health emergencies of international concern. During the epidemic, while some countries, having more robust and functioning public health and surveillance systems, were able to rapidly contain and avoid widespread epidemics; in other neighboring countries at the center of the outbreak, mainly Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia; weak health care systems, lack of infrastructure and resources, and political instability stymied efforts to rapidly contain the spread of Ebola. Although coordinated global efforts resulted in a slow decline of Ebola cases, overall the outbreak resulted in more than 28,600 cases and 11,235 deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia alone. Ebola virus, and other emerging pathogens, continue to threaten public health security and safety in the West African region. In 2018, the second largest Ebola outbreak (the 10th Ebola Outbreak in the region) was reported in the North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – to date more than 3456 cases, and over 2266 deaths have been reported. The current outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), much like the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, is a grave reminder of the porosity of our international borders, and of the importance of international preparedness and coordinated response across borders and within countries to address the growing threat of emerging and remerging infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC). The United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Senegal to build and strengthen core Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) priority capabilities in disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, emergency preparedness and response, public health workforce development, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship. Through support of the CDC, the government of Senegal has made great progress towards implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR (2005)) and GHSA priorities to build and strengthen health systems surveillance and laboratory detection capabilities; however, despite these efforts, many gaps and weaknesses in the national health system remain. In support of the CDC's global health security responsibilities, IRESSEF and its partners will build on their experience and gains from initial efforts done during GHSA phase I (2016-2020) to further: (1) strengthen surveillance system for AMR threat and (2) strengthen national laboratory system to respond to public health emergencies in Senegal. The key specific activities for this current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) include (1) increase geographic coverage and expand maximum load of the specimen referral network; (2) improvement of Biosecurity in biomedical laboratories settings; (3) strengthening of laboratory equipment management; (4) improvement of access to and participation in national and international quality assurance programs and proficiency testing; (5) strengthening AMR surveillance system. Our approach will be guided by our main earlier successes and lessons learned during the implementation of key strategy-specific activities describe above, during the GHSA phase I project, our strong and close partnership with the Ministry of Health and other key in-country partners, our knowledge of the public health and laboratory system in Senegal, and years of experience supporting health, surveillance, and laboratory systems strengthening initiatives.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
