Anticipation and response: pandemic influenza in Malawi, 2009

Sambala, Evanson Z.; Manderson, Lenore

In order to gain perspective on how PRPI was shaped, respondents were asked about the factors that influenced the PRPI plan and implementation. Three core narratives emerged: the influence of politics, the science of pandemic planning, and the strategic policy process related to pandemic preparedness. Respondents argued that politicians wanted to tackle the influenza pandemic at a political level, without the best available knowledge. Those involved in preparedness planning argued the importance of high-quality knowledge in policy processes, while scientists emphasised the importance of evidence-based operational tasks to elicit successful outcomes. Respondents felt that there was a 'blame game', with key actors accusing each others of inadequate actions. Policymakers within the MoH felt that politicians dominated preparedness at all levels of government; those respondents who were politicians meanwhile claimed that department level policymakers were passive. Scientists meanwhile claimed they were not involved in the preparation of the plans, and this limited the validity of the plans: 'Pandemic solutions lie within scientific knowledge, norms and research' (P19).