Water Data Utilization and Capacity Building in the Mekong Region: Improved Hydrologic Decision Support for the Mekong Basin

Background: SASHA, which stands for "Evidence-Informed Health Policymaking (EIHP)" in Persian, is a national project to draw a roadmap for strengthening EIHP in Iran. As a part of SASHA, this research aimed to develop evidence-based and context-aware policy options for increasing the capacity of decision-makers to apply EIHP in Iran. Methods: This was a qualitative study, which was informed by a literature review of pull efforts’ capacity building programs (CBPs). Based on the review, we developed policy options and validated them through an expert panel that involved twelve experts. Data were analyzed using a content analysis method. Results: We extracted data from 11 articles. The objectives of CBPs were: single-skill development, personal/professional development, and organizational development. According to these objectives, the contents and training methods of the programs vary. CBPs have shown positive impacts on individual knowledge/attitudes to use EIHP. However, the impacts of programs at the organizational or the health system level remain under-researched. We followed several threads from the literature review through to the expert panel that included training the management team, instead of training managers, training for problem-solving skills, and designing tailored programs. Barriers of capacity building for EIHP regard the context of the health system (weak accountability and the widespread conflict of interest) and healthcare organizational structures (decision support systems, knowledge management infrastructures, and lack of management team). Experts suggested interventions on the barriers, particularly on resolving the conflict of interests before launching new programs. A proposed framework to increase the capacity of health policymakers incorporates strategies at three levels: CBP, organizational structure, and health system context. Conclusion: To prepare the context of Iranian healthcare organizations for CBPs, the conflict of interests needs to be resolved, decision-makers should be made more accountable, and healthcare organizations need to provide more knowledge management infrastructures and decision support systems.

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The Impact of Preparedness in Defying COVID-19 Pandemic Expectations in the Lower Mekong Region: A Case Study

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.20-1499 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew Corwin ◽

Tanarak Plipat ◽

Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh ◽

Mayfong Mayxay ◽

Phonepadith Xangsayarath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Capacity Building ◽

Influenza A ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Laboratory Diagnostics ◽

Mekong Region ◽

Sporadic Cases ◽

The Impact

Dire COVID-19 expectations in the Lower Mekong Region (LMR) can be understood as Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have stared down a succession of emerging infectious disease (EID) threats from neighboring China. Predictions that the LMR would be overwhelmed by a coming COVID-19 tsunami were felt well before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had been declared. And yet, the LMR, excepting Myanmar, has proved surprisingly resilient in keeping COVID-19 contained to mostly sporadic cases. Cumulative case rates (per one million population) for the LMR, including or excluding Myanmar, from January 1 to October 31 2020, are 1,184 and 237, respectively. More telling are the cumulative rates of COVID-19–attributable deaths for the same period of time, 28 per million with and six without Myanmar. Graphics demonstrate a flattening of pandemic curves in the LMR, minus Myanmar, after managing temporally and spatially isolated spikes in case counts, with negligible follow-on community spread. The comparable success of the LMR in averting pandemic disaster can likely be attributed to years of preparedness investments, triggered by avian influenza A (H5N1). Capacity building initiatives applied to COVID-19 containment included virological (influenza-driven) surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, field epidemiology training, and vaccine preparation. The notable achievement of the LMR in averting COVID-19 disaster through to October 31, 2020 can likely be credited to these preparedness measures.

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Decision Support Systems in Collective Bargaining: A Capacity-Building Measure for the Public Manager

Public Personnel Management ◽

10.1177/009102608701600307 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 269-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. M. Patterson

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Decision Support ◽

Collective Bargaining ◽

Decision Support Systems ◽

Capacity Building ◽

Support Systems ◽

The Public ◽

Public Manager

This article discusses the use of decision support systems (DSS) in collective bargaining. The article reviews the circumstances of collective bargaining that point to the employment of decision support systems, summarizes the concept of decision support, contrasts decision support systems with other forms of computing, and reviews the steps required for development and implementation of DSS. The author focuses on the microcomputer environment in particular. Decision support systems are a viable means to increase decision—making efficiency and accuracy, with the ultimate benefit being an increase in governmental capacity.

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