Browsing by Author "Olowo Oteba, Martin"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Role of the eELMIS as a Tool of Public Health Emergency Supply Chain Management during Uganda’s COVID-19 Emergency Response
    (International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2020) Wasswa, John Hans; Olowo Oteba, Martin; Kavuma, Michael; Muwanguzi, Sam; Opolot, Jude; Katumba, Ahmed; Oundo, Henry; Taratwebirwe, Sarah; Ambrose, Jakira
    After registering its first Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case on 21st March 2020, Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MoH) declared the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Uganda, triggering activation of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) supply chain system. At the center of Uganda’s PHE supply chain system lies a robust electronic information system known as the electronic Emergency Logistics Management Information System (eELMIS). This paper describes in detail the role of the eELMIS as a tool of supply chain management during Uganda’s COVID-19 emergency response. All the key functionalities and activities supported by the eELMIS were examined. Through the eELMIS, movement of COVID-19 Medical countermeasures (MCMs) was tracked for 16 Regional referral hospitals (RRHs), 8 regional prepositioning centers, 28 high risk districts, more than 80 public hospitals, 71 quarantine centers, and 54 points of entry (PoE). A total of 254 orders for COVID-19 MCMs were processed and fully issued through the eELMIS to ensure constant availability of MCMs at frontlines. Quantification, forecasting and pipeline monitoring for the entire country was successfully conducted through the eELMIS. Real time data visibility of COVID-19 supplies at treatment centers, district stores, regional prepositioning centers, central warehouses and partner stores was ensured. The eELMIS further provided routine reports to the Logistic subcommittee (LSC) on the country’s emergency stock-status, stock gap analysis, and national aggregate stock to support top management decision making for the country. In conclusion, the eELMIS formed the backbone of a seamless COVID-19 supply chain emergency response for Uganda, linking the national level, sub-national levels, and health facilities and hence improving response time. This paper therefore shares Uganda’s experiences in using the eELMIS as a tool of supply chain management during Uganda’s COVID-19 pandemic response from which other countries without established emergency electronic logistic information systems to support their existing health supply chain systems can learn from.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Uganda’s Public Health Emergency Supply Chain System in the Awake of COVID-19 Emergency Response: Method and Performance
    (International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2020) Wasswa, John Hans; Olowo Oteba, Martin; Katumba, Ahmed
    Global Health Supply Chain Systems have been unprecedentedly strained to the limits following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak, raising a concern of the possible magnitude of impact likely to be posed on health supply chain systems of low-income countries like Uganda. Uganda experienced its first COVID-19 outbreak on 21st March 2020, 10 days shortly after World Health Organization’s (WHO) pandemic declaration. Ever since then, the number of cases in Uganda has gone on to rise every day. This paper aims to examine in detail the experiences and effectiveness of Uganda’s health supply chain system in preparedness and response to COVID-19 outbreak. All components of Uganda’s public health emergency (PHE) supply chain system and activities undertaken were examined. Ministry of Health (MoH) reports, Logistic Subcommittee (LSC) reports and published journals on COVID-19 were used to inform this paper. Upon declaration of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO on 30th January 2020, MoH activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, National Task Force and District Task Forces to coordinate the COVID-19 preparedness and response. On 31st January 2020 the LSC activated the PHE supply chain system components and activities. The National Medical Countermeasures plan was activated. Quantification, forecasting and pipeline monitoring for possible logistics needs of COVID-19 was conducted for 136 districts, 8 regional prepositioning centers, 17Regional referral hospitals, over 80 public hospitals, 89 quarantine centers, and 75points of entry. The electronic Emergency Logistics Management Information system (eELMIS) was activated to coordinate all emergency supply chain information and regular reporting of stock status at all levels. Eight (8) regional prepositioning centers for stockpiling COVID-19 supplies were activated. In conclusion, the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak provided a stun on-field test for Uganda’s young PHE supply chain system giving it an opportunity to close all the gaps not earlier well-known, and consequently making it even stronger for future epidemics. This paper therefore shares Uganda’s experiences, methods and performance and future lessons from which other countries’ health supply chain systems can learn from.