Many countries are not fully prepared to respond to public health threats. One major problem seen in the COVID-19 pandemic was having weak systems to track and monitor diseases. In the Pacific, these issues are even harder to solve because there are not enough healthcare workers, hospitals or clinics. It’s also difficult to deliver health services to people living far apart in small groups.
The 7-1-7 tool is an approach that helps determine how quickly health systems find and respond to disease outbreaks. It sets clear goals to:
A key aim of assessing the speed of response is to identify issues that are causing delays and resolve these challenges quickly where possible, or plan how to solve them over time.
The tool has worked well in places with many resources, as well as places with very few resources. However, it hasn’t yet been tested in Pacific island countries.
Burnet is working with partners to see how the 7-1-7 approach can work alongside existing policies and processes Pacific island countries use to track and respond to disease outbreaks.
The work will start in Vanuatu and another Pacific island country. It will involve working with partners such as the Ministry of Health, Vanuatu and 'One Health' stakeholders, as well as regional technical partners such as the Pacific Community (SPC). Together, we will:
One Health is about balancing and improving the health of people, animals, and the wider environment (including ecosystems). It recognises that all 3 aspects are connected and depend on each other (OHHLEP, Adisasmito et al., 2022).
After reviewing the disease tracking system and identifying key people and organisations involved, we will work with our partners to test the 7-1-7 tool using data from past outbreaks. We will also talk about how it could improve current processes.
Pictured above are images of the team in Vanuatu, including workshop facilitation. Click on an image to access detailed captions.
Learnings from this project will be used to support the integration of the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Early Action Reviews for improved disease outbreak management. The 7-1-7 approach is a key component of Early Action Reviews.
The findings will also be used to adapt, if necessary, the 7-1-7 tool for Pacific island countries and Territories interested in applying it.
Strengthening health systems in Pacific island countries and territories can improve how outbreaks are managed, leading to better health and wellbeing.
For example:
Burnet is a member of the 7-1-7 Alliance Community of Practice and the 7-1-7 technical lead organisation in the Pacific region.
For more information, contact jane.greig@burnet.edu.au.
You can also visit the following web pages: