Learning from Exemplars in Global Health: a road map for mitigating indirect effects of COVID-19 on maternal and child health

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: David E. Phillips, Gates Ventures; Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Hospital for Sick Children; Agnes Binagwaho, University of Global Health Equity; Ties Boerma, University of Manitoba; Matthew Freeman, Emory University; Lisa R. Hirschhorn, Northwestern University; Raj Panjabi, Last Mile Health
• Language: English
• Date: 2020
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003430
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMJ Global Health
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 7
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was jointly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Gates Ventures. The funders provided project management and writing support.
• Keywords: child health; maternal health; COVID-19; global health
• Research Categories: Sociology, Public and Social Welfare; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Summary: To minimise these negative indirect effects, countries will need to consider all domains of health systems, including demand, supply, resources and social determinants. To this end, learning from countries that have improved health outcomes amid other crises could provide helpful strategies. Some of the strategies used by these positive outlier countries include clear national leadership, data-driven targeting, community-focused health services and a strong emphasis on equity. Studying positive outlier countries to find lessons applicable for other settings is the focus of the recently launched Exemplars in Global Health programme.