Anticipation and response: pandemic influenza in Malawi, 2009

Sambala, Evanson Z.; Manderson, Lenore

Source: Government of Malawi [9] . Some participants commented on the absence of risk scenarios of disease severity in the plan, and lack of clarity of goals in preparedness and response to the needs of particularly vulnerable groups, cities and towns. Participants noted the lack of clarity around services outside the health portfolio, for instance, on how to continue to keep schools open in the context of a pandemic, or how water companies might continue to provide clean water. Others, however, referred to the value of the basic scenarios, for example, how best to facilitate food security to avoid food shortages, and how to increase service output in health facilities so that general health care was not compromised. Participants emphasised that the effectiveness of preparedness was not just a matter of having a plan, but of being able to respond and find legitimate solutions to the pandemic. As one ministerial participant, who openly expressed disappointment, remarked: 'What is the point of having a plan that does not work?' (P2).