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Systematic Review
Policy Decisions and Response to Fight 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease in Uganda: A review of Attributes, Comprehensiveness and Implications to Improve Resilience to Future Pandemics
Frank Kiwanuka
Health Research Facility
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8178-3120
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Uganda experiences recurrent epidemics. However, policies enacted to prevent or prepare for future epidemics remain unclear. This paper reviews policies that are shaping responses to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Uganda. An integrative systematic review approach using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) was adopted. Databases including organizational websites, bibliographical databases, and newsletters were searched for records on policies addressing response to COVID-19. Quality appraisal was conducted using the von Wright’s logic of events framework and the AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation) checklist. A descriptive qualitative narrative approach was used for data analysis. Fifteen papers are included in this review. Uganda’s preparedness to COVID-19 was initiated before the first case was identified on 21 March 2020. Most documents included in our final analysis were soft policy (nonstatutory) documents (n=10). MoH implemented four public orders: notification of COVID-19; prohibition of entry into Uganda; control of COVID-19; prevention of COVID-19; requirements and conditions of entry into Uganda. In addition, the office of the president implemented three directives as of 08 May 2020; the initial directive included preparatory instructions to the public and ministries before the first case of COVID-19 was registered. Subsequently, three other presidential directives were established; two of these instituted lockdown measures while one instituted the first phase of releasing some lockdown measures. Soft policies identified in this review included guidelines (n=4); press releases (n=4) and mitigation measures. Three out of the four guidelines were clinical practice guidelines, these include quarantine of individuals in the context of containment of COVID-19, COVID-19 preparedness and response plan-laboratory manual, and national guidelines for management of COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion: Uganda has experience built from response to previous epidemics. Uganda has robust policies in place to respond to COVID-19. Comprehensive Policies integrating human capital, research and economical aspects of an epidemic can increase and better prepare Uganda for future.
Keywords
policy, COVID-19, Uganda, Pandemic, epidemic, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus disease
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Systematic Review
Policy Decisions and Response to Fight 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease in Uganda: A review of Attributes, Comprehensiveness and Implications to Improve Resilience to Future Pandemics
Frank Kiwanuka
Health Research Facility
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8178-3120
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 13 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Uganda experiences recurrent epidemics. However, policies enacted to prevent or prepare for future epidemics remain unclear. This paper reviews policies that are shaping responses to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Uganda. An integrative systematic review approach using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) was adopted. Databases including organizational websites, bibliographical databases, and newsletters were searched for records on policies addressing response to COVID-19. Quality appraisal was conducted using the von Wright’s logic of events framework and the AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation) checklist. A descriptive qualitative narrative approach was used for data analysis. Fifteen papers are included in this review. Uganda’s preparedness to COVID-19 was initiated before the first case was identified on 21 March 2020. Most documents included in our final analysis were soft policy (nonstatutory) documents (n=10). MoH implemented four public orders: notification of COVID-19; prohibition of entry into Uganda; control of COVID-19; prevention of COVID-19; requirements and conditions of entry into Uganda. In addition, the office of the president implemented three directives as of 08 May 2020; the initial directive included preparatory instructions to the public and ministries before the first case of COVID-19 was registered. Subsequently, three other presidential directives were established; two of these instituted lockdown measures while one instituted the first phase of releasing some lockdown measures. Soft policies identified in this review included guidelines (n=4); press releases (n=4) and mitigation measures. Three out of the four guidelines were clinical practice guidelines, these include quarantine of individuals in the context of containment of COVID-19, COVID-19 preparedness and response plan-laboratory manual, and national guidelines for management of COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion: Uganda has experience built from response to previous epidemics. Uganda has robust policies in place to respond to COVID-19. Comprehensive Policies integrating human capital, research and economical aspects of an epidemic can increase and better prepare Uganda for future.
Figure 1