TDDA presents work on NAPHS Resource Mapping at regional health security conference for infectious disease policy-makers
TDDA Country Coordinator for Mali, Dr Souleymane Diarra, will make a presentation on mapping national health security action plan (NAPHS) resources at a major regional health security forum this month. The 5th Sub-Regional Conference of the West African Consortium for Clinical Research on Epidemic Pathogens (WAC-CREP), held 17-19 March in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, has the mission to save lives through collaboration between key health security actors.
How does a NAPHS save lives?
A NAPHS is a vital tool that equips countries so that they are better able to prevent, prepare for, and respond to, disease outbreaks. While establishing this plan is an important first step, implementation is key. Often, a lack of coordination and weak communication between the different actors can undermine results.
Mapping NAPHS resources in Mali
Dr. Diarra's presentation at WAC-CREP will outline how, in 2021, TDDA helped the Malian government conduct a resource mapping exercise to review and strengthen its implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and health security in Mali, using the World Health Organization's REMAP tool. TDDA's technical assistance was carried out in three phases:
Briefing key multi-sectoral stakeholders and partners on the purpose and methodology of the REMAP approach;
Assisting them to map existing resources (sectoral activities and budgets) for the implementation of the NAPHS;
Convening stakeholders and partners in a three-day workshop to review findings, identify priority gaps and develop costed activities plans to address these priorities.
Our ambition is for this work to provide a “roadmap” that will help to guide government and other funders, accelerate progress against the NAPHS and strengthen health security in Mali.
“By bring together such a range of stakeholders to map health security investments in the country, our work has highlighted potential areas for collaboration,” Dr Diarra comments. “We are facilitating joint planning, coordination and evaluation to aid the implementation of health security preparedness.”
Odile OUWE MISSI OUKEM, PhD, works for Fondation Mérieux Mali, our delivery partner on the ground. Reflecting on the impact of this work, Odile adds:
"Thanks to TDDA, resource mapping for the implementation of IHR was carried out for the first time in Mali in 2021. It has enabled the IHR's technical and financial partners to identify where the gaps lie, and where financial and technical resources need to be invested to significantly advance Mali in the field of health security. This is undeniably a great step forward for the implementation of the IHR in Mali and for health security in general."
Supporting progress across the region
WAC-CREP is an important forum that advances regional preparedness and global health security by sharing research, best practices and evidence to inform infectious disease policy.
“Saving lives through collaboration is a philosophy TDDA and WAC-CREP share”, explains Dr Diarra. “I am delighted to have been selected to present our work on NAPHS Resource Mapping to this year’s conference delegates. I hope TDDA’s insights and analysis from Mali with be helpful to other countries in the region”.
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