scholarly journals COVID-19 in the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States: An Evidence of Effective Response

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. e300-e300
Author(s):  
Salah T. Al Awaidy1*, ◽  
Faryal Khamis ◽  
Fatma Al Attar ◽  
Najiba Abdul Razzaq ◽  
Laila Al Dabal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Data ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
World Health ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Member States ◽  
Strategic Response ◽  
Vaccine Introduction ◽  
Response Plan ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: The World Health Organization (WHO) published a global strategic response plan in February 2020 aiming to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. It identified immediate activities required for global preparedness and response to the outbreak and set eight priority areas (pillars) essential for scaling up countries’ operational readiness and response. Despite a semi-annual progress report on implementing the Global Strategic Plan in June 2020, there is limited granular information available on the extent of the national plan’s content and implementation, particularly in the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Therefore, we sought to review the preparedness and responsiveness towards the COVID-19 outbreak in the GCC in the first phase of the pandemic and to document lessons learned for improving the ongoing response efforts and preparedness for future pandemics. Methods: A rapid appraisal was conducted in June 2020 according to the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and the accompanying Operational Planning Guidelines. The survey was administered to public health professionals or/and infectious disease experts in the states. The findings were cross-triangulated with secondary data that was publicly available for each country. Results: The preparedness and response efforts of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were fully compliant with all 11 (100%) pillars of the modified strategic response measures. Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar complied with eight of the pillars. The component on conducting COVID-19 related research was the lowest-performing across all the six states. Conclusions: All GCC states demonstrated an effective response to the pandemic, enhanced existing infrastructures, and accelerated reforms that would have otherwise taken longer. The lessons learned through the early phase of the pandemic continue to steer the states in realigning their strategies and resetting their goals of controlling the outbreak, particularly in the current context of vaccine introduction and increasing preparedness capacities for future pandemics.

Mitigating the Impact of Extreme Events

2015 ◽  
pp. 32-53
Author(s):  
Doaa Taha
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
September 11 ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Economic Environment ◽  
Public Private Partnerships ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
September 11 Attacks ◽  
The Impact

Years have gone by since 9/11/2001. Still, it seems as though it were only yesterday: the shock, the tragedy, the heartbreak. Of all the questions, one keeps coming back, “Have we learned what we need to know to mitigate the impact of such events in the future?” The answer is a hesitant “Perhaps.” Today, still dealing with an economic disaster the magnitude of which has not been experienced in decades, there is great concern that any gains made from lessons learned by 9/11 will be further eroded. In this chapter, original research considering four corporations directly involved in the September 11 attacks is revisited in view of today's emphasis on public private partnerships and economic environment. In reexamining the original research, this chapter considers the value of public private partnerships as part of the emergency management community, and as part of an effective response to future incidents.

scholarly journals Development and Implementation of First Hospital-Based Epidemic Outbreak Management Plan: Lessons Learned from Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s56-s56
Author(s):  
Ashis Shrestha ◽  
Michael Khouli ◽  
Sumana Bajracharya ◽  
Rose House ◽  
Joshua Mugele
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Disaster Medicine ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Disaster Plan ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Hospital Systems ◽  
Response Plan

Introduction:Patan Hospital, located in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal is a 400-bed hospital that has a long history of responding to natural disasters. Hospital personnel have worked with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop standardized disaster response plans that were implemented in multiple hospital systems after the earthquake of 2015. These plans focused primarily on traumatic events but did not account for epidemics despite the prevalence of infectious diseases in Nepal.Aim:To develop and test a robust epidemic/pandemic response plan at Patan Hospital in Kathmandu that would be generalizable to other hospitals nationwide.Methods:Using the existing disaster plan in conjunction with public health and disaster medicine experts,we developed an epidemic response plan focusing on communication and coordination (between the hospital and MOH, among hospital administration and staff), logistics and supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE), and personnel and hospital incident command (IC) training. After development, we tested the plan using a high-fidelity, real-time simulation across the entire hospital and the hospital IC using actors and in conjunction with the MOH and WHO. We adjusted the plan based on lessons learned from this exercise.Results:Lessons learned from the high-fidelity simulation included the following: uncovering patient flow issues to avoid contamination/infection; layout issues with the isolation area, specifically accounting for donning/doffing of PPE; more sustained duration of response compared to a natural disaster with implications for staffing and supplies; communication difficulties unique to epidemics; need for national and regional surveillance and inter-facility planning and communication. We adjusted our plan accordingly and created a generalizable plan that can be deployed at an inter-facility and national level.Discussion:We learned that this process is feasible in resource-poor hospital systems. Challenges discovered in this process can lead to better national and system-wide preparedness.

Promoting Integrated Mental Health Care Services in Disaster Response Programs: Lessons Learned After the Impact of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-138
Author(s):  
Julio C. Jiménez Chávez ◽  
Esteban Viruet Sánchez ◽  
Fernando J. Rosario Maldonado ◽  
Axel J. Ramos Lucca ◽  
Barbara Barros Cartagena
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTMeteorological and even human-made disasters are increasing every year in frequency and magnitude. The passage of a disaster affects a society without distinction, but groups with social vulnerability (low socioeconomic status, chronic medical, or psychological conditions, limited access to resources) face the most significant impact. As a result, psychological and behavioral symptoms (eg, depression and anxiety) can ensue, making the immediate response of mental health services crucial. Secondary data from a database of a temporary healthcare unit were analyzed. A total of 54 records were reviewed to collect information; univariate and bivariate analyses were done. The purpose of this article is to present our experience regarding the incorporation of a mental health services model, with its respective benefits and challenges, into a temporary healthcare unit, after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

On the development and operationalization of an impact-based forecasting system to support early action for river floods in Zambia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Giodini ◽  
Aklilu Teklesadik ◽  
Jannis Visser ◽  
Orla Canavan ◽  
Innocent Bwalya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Emergency Operation ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Early Action ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
The Impact

<div>Flooding in Zambia occurs on almost an annual basis greatly affecting the livelihoods of communities. Early action is crucial to mitigate the impact of flooding but needs to be guided by an early warning that is credible and actionable, linked to situational awareness based on data.  The 510 data team at the Netherlands Red Cross has been working together with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Zambia Red Cross Society, Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and Zambia Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to develop a data driven early warning system to support impact based early action implementation. The system has been co-designed with the relevant local stakeholders and  integrates a hydrological model with a vulnerability capacity assessment based on secondary data for the whole country at the highest level of possible granularity (district level). A threshold based trigger model has been developed together with local decision makers to activate the system with a lead time up to 7 days. The system is being integrated in the Emergency Operation Centre operated by Zambia's DMMU as a part of the country standard early action protocol. This paper describes the system design, results from the first activations and lessons learned. </div>

scholarly journals IS CLIMATE INDICATOR AFFECTS TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: CLIMATIC IMPACTS ON COVID-19 TRANSMISSION

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif Khan ◽  
Muhammad Waseem Khan ◽  
Asima Siddique
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
World Health ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Wind Flow ◽  
Temperature Minimum ◽  
The Impact

The climate variations have lot of the financial, medical and economic consequences. Studies showed that climate plays the vital role in virus transmission. This study analyzed the impact of climate indicators on COVID-19 concerning Pakistan. The secondary data is used for analysis as obtained from world health organization, ministry of health Pakistan and Pakistan meteorological department. The results show that all the research variables like temperature maximum, temperature minimum, humidity, and wind flow are positively and significantly correlated to COVID-19. Findings show that temperature maximum, temperature minimum, and wind flow have the positive and significant association with COVID-19, while the humidity has a positive impact on COVID-19 transmission. The study show that minimum temperature is favorable for the virus transmission. Thus, the study provides significant results in reaching the decision and concluding the study.

THE IMPACT OF STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN ENGLISH ONLINE LEARNING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT SMA NEGERI 2 SOJOL

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-89
Author(s):  
Lia Umi Mulyana ◽  
Muhammad Ihsan ◽  
Yuni Amelia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Learning System ◽  
World Health ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Learning Policies ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

The global pandemic that set by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020 as a result of the new disease of Covid-19 has made many major changes, one of them in education where learning system are done through online. Online learning policies during the Covid-19 pandemic are the main solution to keeping the learning process going.This thesis aims to find out what impact of English online learning has on students' mental health during the covid-19 pandemic at SMA Negeri 2 Sojol  and To find out what factors hindered students in the process of English online learning at SMA Negeri 2 Sojol. In this research, the researcher applied a descriptive qualitative research which were located at SMA Negeri 2 Sojol. Data sources obtained through primary and secondary data. Data collection techniques used are  questionnaire and interviews. Based on the results of the questioner showed that they tend to just felt bored, difficult to concentrate, feelings of fear or worry if they are unable to collect tasks on time as well as their difficulty in understanding the material when English online learning during the covid-19 pandemic. Where it is caused by several factors such as poor internet network, residential environment and also monotonous teaching techniques from English teachers.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MICRO & SMALL SCALE TOURISM ENTREPRENEURS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasya Farhana Nazry ◽  
◽  
Jabil Mapjabil ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
International Travel ◽  
World Health ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The tourism sector is the single largest contributor to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Malaysia. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are divided into three levels: micro, small and medium-sized - enterprises, in a programme initiated by the government to reduce poverty and cut the income gap between rural and urban residents. The involvement of SMEs in the tourism industry has contributed to the development of a competitive advantage for the tourism industry in Malaysia. SMEs are an important component of the Malaysian economy, accounting for more than a third of the total GDP and providing employment to more than seven million people. However, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a worldwide pandemic, it has radically changed the direction of the tourism sector in Malaysia, especially among the micro and small scale enterprises (SMEs). In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, numerous countries introduced and mandated the use of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including hand washing and sanitisation, social distancing and social isolation. Furthermore, the government has introduced several policies, improved public health systems and closed borders. These developments have restricted and even banned international travel and domestic travel, resulting in severe negative effects on the tourism sector. This unforeseen shock, to the tourism and other sectors, has dragged on for more than 12 months. It has severely curtailed the growth of micro and small scale enterprises (SMEs), leaving many such enterprises on the brink of closure. This study examines the literature and critically reviews the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted SMEs. The methodology of this study uses the method of highlighting literature material systematically. A conceptual research method using secondary data was used in this study.

scholarly journals A Study on Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sectors of Indian Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
The Government ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

COVID-19 emerged in China in December. The World Health Organization declares this virus as Global Disaster in March. The coronavirus has affected the social, economic, political dimensions of the nations globally. In this study, the authors consider the impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the different activities of primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of the Indian Economy and various policies and reforms have been taken by the government. The secondary data is collected to put down this literature. Each sector of the economy faces chaos due to coronavirus. Migrant workers or laborers go to their state in the lockdown, a ban on materials, electronics imported from china, supply chain disruption, disturbance in the cash flow are some of the majors' reasons that lead to the uncertainty in different sectors. A fund issued by the Government can be utilized effectively to give benefits to employees, workers, farmers, organizations, and industries.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Lockdown and Lifestyles – A Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy ◽  
Sohaila Cheema ◽  
Ahmad Al Mulla ◽  
Ravinder Mamtani
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

Background: The primary objective worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic has been controlling disease transmission. However, lockdown measures used to mitigate transmission have affected human behavior and altered lifestyles, with a likely impact on chronic non-communicable diseases. More than a year into the pandemic, substantial peer-reviewed literature has emerged on altered lifestyles following the varying lockdown measures imposed globally to control the virus spread. Objective: To explore the impact of lockdown measures on the six lifestyle factors, namely diet, physical activity, sleep, stress, social connectedness, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, or other harmful substances.Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed and the World Health Organization’s global literature database on COVID-19 and retrieved 649 relevant articles for the narrative review. A critical interpretative synthesis of the articles was performed.Results: Most of the articles included in the review identified the negative effect of lockdown measures on each of the lifestyle factors in many parts of the world. Interestingly, encouraging lifestyle trends were also highlighted in a few articles. Such trends can positively influence the outcome of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to better understand the negative impact of strict lockdown measures on lifestyles. At the same time, it helps us identify and initiate positive behavioral changes, which, if consolidated, could improve chronic disease outcomes. It is up to governments, communities, and healthcare/academic entities to derive benefit from lessons learned from the pandemic, with the ultimate objective of better educating and promoting healthy lifestyles among communities.

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