Conference abstract
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health facilities preparedness against an epidemic of SARS-COV and cholera in the Dschang Health District
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(36).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.36.1981
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Effect, COVID-19, healthcare facilities, preparedness, cholera
Poster
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health facilities preparedness against an epidemic of SARS-COV and cholera in the Dschang Health District
Douanla Pagning Loïc1,2,3,&, Earnest Njih Tabah2,3,4, Jerome Ateudjieu4,5,6
1GRA (Global Research Agency), Cameroon, 2National Leprosy, Yaws, Leishmaniasis and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Cameroon, 3Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon, 4Department of Public Health, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 5M.A.SANTE (Meilleur accès aux soins de Santé), Yaounde, Cameroon, 6Division of Health Operations Research, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an epidemic that came on abruptly and therefore affected the world in a short period. To respond effectively to this type of epidemic, healthcare facilities need to prepare properly before and during the epidemic. The preparedness level determines the response to the problem and its effectiveness. The objective was to assess the effect of COVID-19 on healthcare facilities’ preparedness against an epidemic of cholera and SARS-CoV in the Dschang health district.
Methods: this was an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytical component that compared the state of preparedness of healthcare facilities against an epidemic before and during COVID-19. The target was the healthcare facilities of the Dschang Health District. A questionnaire was administered face-to-face to those in charge of the healthcare facilities according to an exhaustive sampling of healthcare facilities. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data for the descriptive section. The preparation progress was determined from the comparison of the means and proportions of the variables before and during COVID-19.
Results: seventy-two (72) healthcare facilities were surveyed. Of these, 31 (43.1%) had a ward for the isolation of patients and 58 (80.6%) had a focal point responsible for epidemiological surveillance. Regarding access to water, hygiene, and sanitation, 45 (62.5%) had access to an improved water source and 72 (100.0%) had at least one toilet. Face masks and protective suits were not available in 40 (54.1%) and 64 (85.5%) healthcare facilities respectively during the outbreak. The availability of hand washing points and hand sanitizers increased from 23 (31.9%) and 13 (18.1%) to 71 (98.6%) (P-value = 0.000) and 54 (75.0%) (P-value = 0.000) respectively.
Conclusion: even though the availability of resources for epidemic preparedness remains insufficient, there have been significant improvements in some aspects with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the availability of hand washing points and hand sanitizers.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health facilities preparedness against an epidemic of SARS-COV and cholera in the Dschang Health District
Douanla Pagning Loïc1,2,3,&, Earnest Njih Tabah2,3,4, Jerome Ateudjieu4,5,6
1GRA (Global Research Agency), Cameroon, 2National Leprosy, Yaws, Leishmaniasis and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Cameroon, 3Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon, 4Department of Public Health, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 5M.A.SANTE (Meilleur accès aux soins de Santé), Yaounde, Cameroon, 6Division of Health Operations Research, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an epidemic that came on abruptly and therefore affected the world in a short period. To respond effectively to this type of epidemic, healthcare facilities need to prepare properly before and during the epidemic. The preparedness level determines the response to the problem and its effectiveness. The objective was to assess the effect of COVID-19 on healthcare facilities’ preparedness against an epidemic of cholera and SARS-CoV in the Dschang health district.
Methods: this was an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytical component that compared the state of preparedness of healthcare facilities against an epidemic before and during COVID-19. The target was the healthcare facilities of the Dschang Health District. A questionnaire was administered face-to-face to those in charge of the healthcare facilities according to an exhaustive sampling of healthcare facilities. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data for the descriptive section. The preparation progress was determined from the comparison of the means and proportions of the variables before and during COVID-19.
Results: seventy-two (72) healthcare facilities were surveyed. Of these, 31 (43.1%) had a ward for the isolation of patients and 58 (80.6%) had a focal point responsible for epidemiological surveillance. Regarding access to water, hygiene, and sanitation, 45 (62.5%) had access to an improved water source and 72 (100.0%) had at least one toilet. Face masks and protective suits were not available in 40 (54.1%) and 64 (85.5%) healthcare facilities respectively during the outbreak. The availability of hand washing points and hand sanitizers increased from 23 (31.9%) and 13 (18.1%) to 71 (98.6%) (P-value = 0.000) and 54 (75.0%) (P-value = 0.000) respectively.
Conclusion: even though the availability of resources for epidemic preparedness remains insufficient, there have been significant improvements in some aspects with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the availability of hand washing points and hand sanitizers.
