Resilient and responsive health systems: learning from frontline experiences

We live in a changing world. More and more people live long, life expectancy increases at the same time that there are several health emergencies and natural disasters that arise. The challenges are becoming increasingly numerous and imposing. Faced with these challenges, the health system is needed. It is in this global logic that building strong, resilient and flexible health systems in the most optimal way possible remains a priority. It is therefore timely and relevant to teach and discuss how to respond to health emergencies or humanitarian disasters in the world.

In fact, building such a health system requires capitalizing on missing strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the management of past and recent health emergencies to better manage the response in the present or possibly in the future. For that matter, the operational analysis of the management of the Ebola epidemic in Africa in 2016 was used as an example. During the response to this epidemic, the main weaknesses detected in the health systems of the countries concerned and of the whole world, were the following:
– the lack of effective and well-constructed political dialogue with all stakeholders (political decision-makers, donors, researchers …) and the local population;
– the inadequacy of qualified human resources and adequate infrastructure; The lack of good governance, mistrust between the population and the rulers;
– the lack of scientific evidence to guide and guide the choice of strategies to be adopted and the failure to take into account fundamental problems of the communities in their contexts.

From the above, the resilience of a health system is its ability to cover the health needs of populations and to respond to major emergencies or challenges (health or humanitarian of the hour and to come). It is an offer of care centered on patient, family, community to reduce morbidity and preventable mortality. The resilience of a health system goes beyond mere availability of resources and access to care to take into account the necessary structural and organizational adaptations required to overcome challenges, barriers and ensure universal coverage of care and services quality health. So, resilience goes beyond just strengthening the health system. This strengthens the different levels of health system capacity – inputs; Skills and abilities; Infrastructure and personnel; Structural, systemic and role capacity. To do so, an intersectoral approach is effective in understanding and promoting resilience and responsiveness in the world’s health systems

The RIPSEC program is also a contributor to this construction of a strong and resilient health system by a lot of much local system. Three health zones for learning and research in the health system are undergoing transformation in the DRC. Emphasis is placed on developing the functionality of the management team through a reflective attitude and integration of different levels of health care in the local population. Then for the Congo Health Knowledge Center is in charge of health production evidence can be using to the health policymaker in DRC.

This post is also available in: Français (French)

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