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Volume 28, Supplement—December 2022
SUPPLEMENT ISSUE
Surveillance

Using Population Mobility Patterns to Adapt COVID-19 Response Strategies in 3 East Africa Countries

Rebecca D. MerrillComments to Author , Fadhili Kilamile, Mwabi White, Daniel Eurien, Kanan Mehta, Joseph Ojwang, Marianne Laurent-Comlan, Peter Ahabwe Babigumira, Lydia Nakiire, Alexandra Boos, Wangeci Gatei, Julie R. Harris, Alain Magazani, Felix Ocom, Robert Ssekubugu, Godfrey Kigozi, Florent Senyana, Francis B. Iyese, Peter James Elyanu, Sarah Ward, Issa Makumbi, Allan Muruta, Elvira McIntyre, Khalid Massa, Alex R. Ario, Harriet Mayinja, Kakulu Remidius, and Dede N. Ndungi
Author affiliations: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (R.D. Merrill, K. Mehta, J. Ojwang, W. Gatei, J.R. Harris, S. Ward); Tanzania Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania (F. Kilamile, K. Massa, K. Remidius); Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (M. White, F.B. Iyese, D.N. Ndungi); Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Uganda, Kampala, Uganda (D. Eurien, P.J. Elyanu); Bizzell Group, Kinshasa (M. Laurent-Comlan, F. Senyana); Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala (P.A. Babigumira, L. Nakiire); Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (A. Boos, E. McIntyre); US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (W. Gatei); African Field Epidemiology Network, Kinshasa (A. Magazani); Uganda Ministry of Health, Kampala (F. Ocum, I. Makumbi, A. Muruta, H. Mayinja); Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda (R. Ssekubugu, G. Kigozi); National Public Health Institute, Kampala (A.R. Ario)

Main Article

Table 2

Components of the Population Connectivity Across Borders preparation phase decisions in 3 countries to inform COVID-19 response measures, May 2020–March 2022*

Component DRC Tanzania Uganda
Implementation lead
 MOH, PNHF, International Health Regulations national focal point
 MOH Port Health program, International Health Regulations national focal point
 MOH Border Health Program, International Health Regulations national focal point, and National Institute of Public Health
Partnerships
 CDC, AFENET
 CDC
 CDC, Baylor Uganda, IDI, Rakai Health Sciences
Team members
 National and provincial PNHF staff; FETP residents
 MOH national, regional- and district-level officials from Port Health, the Emergency Operations Center, and Surveillance; FETP advisors, and residents
 MOH Staff, FELTP mentors, and residents, District-level leadership
Objectives Identify POE and POC (domestic) for enhanced and adjusted surveillance strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19 across international borders and provincial boundaries Identify specific places of interest with population movement and connectivity patterns that may increase the risk for COVID-19 spread and other diseases Tailor border health surveillance strategies for point of entry, informal crossing points, and cross-border communities
Identify specific places and routes of interest with population movement and connectivity patterns that may influence the risk for spread of COVID-19 and other diseases through targeted interventions to enhance public health benefit and judicious use of resources Tailor interventions to enhance public health benefit and judicious use of resource Modify risk communication strategies for border communities
Prioritize locations for enhanced staff training and surveillance Prioritize POE, health facilities, and communities for enhanced staff training and surveillance Prioritize POE, health facilities, and other locations for enhanced staff training and surveillance
Identify secondary travel routes, including in formal border crossing points Understand the influence of COVID-19 lockdowns on cross-border movement
Identify sociodemographic characteristics of and means of travel among cross-border populations
Identify at-risk areas and populations
Priority geographic areas
 Kinshasa, border regions, cross-border environments
 Three regions along with Uganda and Kenya border
 Western border with DRC, Southern border with Tanzania
Priority population groups
 Persons moving across international and domestic administrative borders
 Persons moving across borders with an emphasis on pastoralists and movement for animal herding
 Mobile populations in general
First implemented for COVID-19 response December 20 July 2020 May 2020

*AFENET, African Field Epidemiology Network; CDC, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo; FELTP, Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program; FETP, Field Epidemiology Training Program; IDI, Infectious Diseases Institute; PNHF, Programme National d’Hygiène aux frontiers (National Border Health Program); POC, point of control; POE, point of entry; PopCAB, Population Connectivity Across Borders.

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Page created: October 19, 2022
Page updated: December 11, 2022
Page reviewed: December 11, 2022
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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