COVID-19 Response Mechanism Technical Assistance – Emerging Health Priorities

Overview

In 2021, EGPAF was awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds through EGPAF’s DELTA2 mechanism to provide tailored, targeted technical support to Ministries of Health (MOH) and GFATM grantees in six countries to achieve their COVID-19 response mechanism (C19RM) activities and targets. The overall focus of this initiative, implemented from 2022-2024, was to support COVID-19 response and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on HIV, TB, and malaria programs, improving health and community systems in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

EGPAF’s TA directly supported country C19RM activities and targets, primarily through the identification and secondment of several Technical Advisors to address identified gaps, needs, and challenges in the pandemic response in each country, in close collaboration and coordination with Ministries of Health (MOHs), other relevant government entities, implementing partners (IPs), PEPFAR, USAID, and CDC missions. EGPAF worked with each country’s respective MOH and key stakeholders to identify implementation challenges associated with achieving the country’s C19RM targets at the national level.

Key themes emerged throughout the implementation of C19RM TA activities across these six countries. EGPAF Technical Advisors highlighted the challenge of addressing emerging health priorities and the need for health systems strengthening for improved pandemic preparedness and response. EGPAF has increasingly recognized the importance of a robust surveillance infrastructure to rapidly detect and respond to potential public health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of surveillance systems in monitoring infectious diseases and facilitating early intervention for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC). C19RM TA activities further reinforced the need for continuous investment in surveillance infrastructure, data-sharing mechanisms, and international collaboration to enhance pandemic preparedness and respond to emerging health priorities. Just as strengthening health systems was key to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to do so is vital for building resilience against future public health threats, pandemics or otherwise.