Delivering together: A framework for sustainable ownership of early warning and health emergency surveillance technologies in low- and middleincome countries

Abstract

Previous health and natural disasters have all had a significant impact on human life. However, there is a consensus that the technological advances of our time would have allowed us to better understand and respond to these situations in a more holistic manner. Early Warning and Health Emergency Surveillance technologies are therefore more than essential for improved proactivity. While in developed countries, their implementation is facilitated by the existence of proven mechanisms, this is not often the case in low and middle-income countries. Our practical experience in deploying Early Warning and Health Emergency Surveillance systems in resource-constrained environments led us to develop and propose an approach that is intended to be effective in the execution of such interventions. When implemented in low and middle-income countries, our approach, which promotes the Bottom-to-Top concept, has succeeded in federating and strengthening all the forces in the public, private and international development sectors around the implementation of these crucial technologies for better emergency management, especially in health. Engaging all stakeholders, developing an inclusive modus operandi, promoting a sustainable strategy, and effectively empowering recipients in a coordinated manner is the recipe for the successful implementation of such technologies in low and middle-income countries.