Publications by authors named "Alejandra Velasquez Morales"
COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Latin American Countries: Scoping Review and Analysis Based on World Health Organization Standards.
Lilian Sofía Ramírez Berrío Esteban Orlando Vanegas Duarte Alejandra Velásquez Morales Gloria Isabel Niño Cruz Leonardo Salas Zapata
Disaster Med Public Health Prep
November 2024
Objective: To describe COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response in 6 countries during 2020 and 2021.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, LILACS, and Google Scholar regarding the measures adopted to face the COVID-19 pandemic; the checklist of the international World Healths Organization's (WHO) guide "COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan" was applied.
Results: Most countries coordinated their response at the central level with the establishment of management teams and the activation of emergency operations centers for the coordination of the response to the pandemic.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant gaps in prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) efforts across South America, with the region experiencing a high percentage of global cases and deaths.
- This study analyzed the impacts of political, socioeconomic, and health system challenges on PPR in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, using interviews and focus groups with key policymakers.
- Findings indicated that insufficient political will and barriers at various levels hindered effective PPR, prompting recommendations for a regional COVID-19 task force and improved health strategies to prioritize PPR in national agendas.