Identifying the impact of COVID-19 on health systems and lessons for future emergency preparedness: A stakeholder analysis in Kenya

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001348
• Publication Date: 2022-12-21T18:22:49Z
• Authors: Dosila Ogira; Ipchita Bharali; Joseph Onyango; Wenhui Mao; Kaci Kennedy McDade; Gilbert Kokwaro; Gavin Yamey
• Keywords: Preparedness; Pandemic; Kenya; Personal Protective Equipment

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has triggered a public health and economic crisis in high low resource settings since the beginning of 2020. With first case being discovered on 12th March 2020, Kenya responded by using non-health strategies to mitigate direct indirect impact disease its population. However, this had positive negative implications for country's overall system. This paper aimed understand pandemic's develop lessons future response identifying key challenges opportunities faced during pandemic. We conducted qualitative study with 15 informants, purposefully sampled in-depth interviews from September 2020 February 2021. content analysis transcripts stakeholder's views perceptions how COVID-19 affected Kenyan healthcare Most respondents noted that Kenya's initial was relatively good, especially controlling resources it at time. included relaying information citizens, creating technical working groups fostering multisectoral collaboration. concerns were raised regarding service disruption reproductive health, HIV, TB, non-communicable diseases services; poor coordination between national county governments; shortage personal protective equipment testing kits; strain human health. Effective preparedness calls improved investments across system building blocks, including; financing, infrastructure, information, leadership, delivery medical products technologies. These will help build resilient systems improve self-reliance, countries transitioning donor aid such as event