Anticipation and response: pandemic influenza in Malawi, 2009

Sambala, Evanson Z.; Manderson, Lenore

Our findings corroborate mounting evidence that planning and response are only as good as the assumptions on which they are based. For example, planning at the national level can address issues at that level, but may overlook the need for planning to begin locally and that they always impact the local level. Local plans at the district level are needed to engage local communities and medical personnel to ensure local services are run smoothly during the pandemic period. Scott has suggested that emergency management begin at the local level because disasters are local [35] . In this study, policymakers identified finances as barriers to planning, and while we appreciate the significance of what money does, PRPI cannot be determined only by its budget. A number of financial agreements may need to be established with developmental partners in order to strengthen capacity in areas such as education and to resource laboratory surveillance. There is also a need to maximise resources to work in such a way to address the pandemic problem, and to identify leaders, partners and structures to implement pandemic influenza activities.