Authors :
Karen Moompizho; Dr. Mitulo Silengo; Dr. Paul M Zulu; Dr. Sianga Mutola
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/bdjh79xs
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26sep1069
Note : A published paper may take 4-5
working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Zambia established its National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (NPHEOC) under the Zambia National
Public Health Institute Act No. 19 of 2020, but little is known about how governmental and non-governmental stakeholders
use it, or what constrains that use. This study assessed the utilization of the NPHEOC among stakeholders in Lusaka District.
Methods:
A convergent mixed-methods design combined a survey of 51 stakeholders, 14 in-depth interviews, one focus group
discussion, and a desk review of two national health-security assessments (the Joint External Evaluation, 2023, and the
Cholera Intra-Action Review, 2024). Analysis included frequencies and cross-tabulations, Fisher’s exact tests, composite
indices with reliability testing, Spearman correlation, Firth penalized logistic regression, trend tests, and a purpose-built
Coordination Performance Index (CPI). Qualitative data were analysed using thematic (Framework Method) analysis.
Keywords :
Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Emergency, Preparedness, Response, Stakeholder, Utilization.
References :
- Africa CDC (2022) Framework for One Health Practice in National Public Health Institutes. Addis Ababa: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
- CDC (2017) ‘Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Programs as a strategy to improve disease surveillance and response’, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(Suppl. 1), pp. S158–S165. doi:10.3201/eid2313.170803.
- CDC (2024) CDC in Zambia. Atlanta: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/global-health/countries/zambia.html (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
- Damschroder, L.J., Aron, D.C., Keith, R.E., Kirsh, S.R., Alexander, J.A. and Lowery, J.C. (2009) ‘Fostering implementation of health services research findings into practice: a consolidated framework for advancing implementation science’, Implementation Science, 4, 50. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-4-50.
- Eteng, W.-E.O., Lilay, A., Tekeste, S., Mankoula, W., Collard, E., Waya, C., Rosenfeld, E., Wilton, C.M., Muita, M., McGinley, L., Kawe, Y., Abdullah, A., Halm, A., Li, J., Lokossou, V.L., Kanoute, Y., Sonko, I., Aragaw, M., Ouma, A.O. and Coffee, M. (2023) ‘Strengthening COVID-19 pandemic response coordination through public health emergency operations centres (PHEOC) in Africa’, PLOS Global Public Health, 3(6), e0001386. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001386.
- Fekadu, S.T., Gebrewahid, A.L., Mankoula, W., Eteng, W., Lokossou, V., Kawe, Y., Abdullah, A., Jian, L., Kol, M.T.M., Wilton, M.C., Rosenfeld, E., Bemo, V.N., Collard, E., McGinley, L., Halm, A., Aragaw, M., Conteh, I.N., Braka, F. and Gueye, A.S. (2023) ‘Public health emergency operations centres in Africa: a cross-sectional study assessing the implementation status of core components and areas for improvement, December 2021’, BMJ Open, 13(6), e068934. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068934.
- Fetters, M.D., Curry, L.A. and Creswell, J.W. (2013) ‘Achieving integration in mixed methods designs — principles and practices’, Health Services Research, 48(6 Pt 2), pp. 2134–2156. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.12117.
- Kateule, E., Nzila, O., Ngosa, W., Mfume, F., Shimangwala, C., Gama, A. and Msiska, S. (2024) ‘Multisectoral approach for the control of cholera outbreak — lessons and challenges from Lusaka district, Zambia, October 2023–February 2024’, Pan African Medical Journal, 48, 19. doi:10.11604/pamj.2024.48.19.43659.
- Republic of Zambia (2020) Zambia National Public Health Institute Act, No. 19 of 2020. Lusaka: Government of the Republic of Zambia.
- Wilson, K., Juya, A., Abade, A., Sembuche, S., Leonard, D., Harris, J., Perkins, S., Chale, S., Bakari, M., Mghamba, J. and Kohler, P. (2021) ‘Evaluation of a new Field Epidemiology Training Program Intermediate course to strengthen public health workforce capacity in Tanzania’, Public Health Reports, 136(5), pp. 575–583. doi:10.1177/0033354920974663.
- World Bank (2020) Zambia COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. Washington, DC: World Bank.
- World Health Organization (2005) International Health Regulations (2005). 3rd edn. Geneva: World Health Organization.
- World Health Organization (2015) Framework for a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. Geneva: World Health Organization.
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (2023) Strategic plan for strengthening public health emergency operations centres in Member States of the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions (2023–2027). Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa.
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (2026) Strengthening Zambia's readiness for health emergencies: from surveillance to pandemic preparedness. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa.
Zambia established its National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (NPHEOC) under the Zambia National
Public Health Institute Act No. 19 of 2020, but little is known about how governmental and non-governmental stakeholders
use it, or what constrains that use. This study assessed the utilization of the NPHEOC among stakeholders in Lusaka District.
Methods:
A convergent mixed-methods design combined a survey of 51 stakeholders, 14 in-depth interviews, one focus group
discussion, and a desk review of two national health-security assessments (the Joint External Evaluation, 2023, and the
Cholera Intra-Action Review, 2024). Analysis included frequencies and cross-tabulations, Fisher’s exact tests, composite
indices with reliability testing, Spearman correlation, Firth penalized logistic regression, trend tests, and a purpose-built
Coordination Performance Index (CPI). Qualitative data were analysed using thematic (Framework Method) analysis.
Keywords :
Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Emergency, Preparedness, Response, Stakeholder, Utilization.