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Assessing the Effective Utilization of the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and Associated Barriers among Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations in Lusaka District, Zambia, 2026


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.

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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.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - October - 2026

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