Resource Language: English

How do local-level authorities engage in epidemic and pandemic preparedness activities and coordinate with higher levels of government? Survey results from 33 cities

How do local-level authorities engage in epidemic and pandemic preparedness activities and coordinate with higher levels of government? Survey results from 33 cities

Engaging local governments in epidemic preparedness will strengthen global health security by ensuring better coordination between local and national authorities. Writing in PLOS Global Public Health, Resolve to Save Lives and partners explore local-level involvement in epidemic preparedness before the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, based on responses from 33 cities in the Partnership for Healthy […]

Building National Health Security Through a Rapid Self-Assessment and Annual Operational Plan in Uganda, May to September 2021

Building National Health Security Through a Rapid Self-Assessment and Annual Operational Plan in Uganda, May to September 2021

While long-term planning for health security is indispensable, focused short-term operational planning can be a tremendous asset for developing actionable and realistic strategies to improve readiness for public health emergencies. Despite limited funding and an overwhelming list of action items, Uganda successfully enhanced its epidemic readiness by 20% with a focused 1-year operational plan developed […]

Association Between Preparedness and Response Measures and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality

Association Between Preparedness and Response Measures and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality

The COVID-19 pandemic was the most disruptive global health crisis in a century. Analysis of publicly available data by experts from Resolve to Save Lives revealed that alongside preparedness capacities, governance and leadership capacities independently contributed to lower COVID-19 cases and deaths. Both preparedness and governance are essential for effective pandemic control, requiring stronger public […]

COVID-19 Risk Alert Levels

This briefing note explains why alert-level systems for COVID-19 are effective, compares models from several countries, and provides the key principles and potential pitfalls to be aware of when developing these systems. It is intended to provide guidance to local, regional and national governments on best practices for alert-level systems, and on how to clearly […]

Assessing and reducing risk to health care workers in outbreaks

Assessing and reducing risk to health care workers in outbreaks

Identiftying critical points of failure within the health system and during emergencies is the first step to mitigating future risk exposure. The West African Ebola epidemic (2014-2016) revealed alarming gaps in infection prevention and control for health care workers, highlighting a major vulnerability in global health security. Experts from Resolve to Save Lives propose a […]

Applying ‘timeliness’ to the screening and prevention of TB in household contacts of pulmonary TB patients

Timeliness is essential in preventing and controlling infectious diseases like meningococcal meningitis and tuberculosis (TB). Experts from resolve to save lives explored adapting the global 7-1-7 target for outbreak control to the management of household contacts of TB patients. Applying the metric in India, Pakistan, and Kenya improved TB preventive therapy (TPT) initiation rates, though […]

Addressing the challenges of implementing evidence-based prioritisation in global health

Addressing the challenges of implementing evidence-based prioritisation in global health

In a roundtable discussion with health practitioners, funders, academics, and policy-makers, experts from Resolve to Save Lives identified key areas for improving global health practices. We emphasized the importance of evidence-based frameworks that are adaptive and responsive to prioritised health needs. Key recommendations include enhancing information-sharing, increasing social engagement, and promoting diversity in decision-making processes. […]

Action-based costing for national action plans for health security: accelerating progress toward the International Health Regulations (2005)

Action-based costing for national action plans for health security: accelerating progress toward the International Health Regulations (2005)

Implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) can be a cumbersome process, and costs vary widely from country to country. To support facilitating this complex work, experts from Resolve to Save Lives tested several new tools designed to estimate the resources needed for implementing the IHR. Using Nigeria’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) […]

7-1-7: an organising principle, target, and accountability metric to make the world safer from pandemics

7-1-7: an organising principle, target, and accountability metric to make the world safer from pandemics

Clear, universal performance standards for outbreak detection, reporting and control can improve accountability, save lives, and accelerate global readiness for future pandemics. For The Lancet’s Viewpoint, experts from Resolve to Save Lives propose 7-1-7 as a global target for timely response to infectious disease outbreaks: detecting a suspected outbreak within 7 days, reporting and initiating […]

Guideline: sodium intake for adults and children

This guideline offers evidence-based recommendations for reducing sodium intake to prevent NCDs, supporting policymakers and program planners in assessing intake levels, developing interventions, and aligning efforts with global health targets.