Strengthening Health Systems and Improving the Capacity of Pediatric Care Centers to Respond to Epidemics Such as COVID-19 in Resource-limited Settings

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted in dramatic fashion the weaknesses of health systems worldwide in responding to emerging pandemics [1]. Although many governments, nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and multinational organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) have prioritized the strengthening of health systems, and developed pandemic preparedness plans, the world’s uneven (and often belated) response to the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that many of these plans were insufficient and that the global health community will need to improve resource allocation, information-sharing and government coordination in order to minimize the impact of future outbreaks [2]. We are particularly concerned that existing preparedness plans do not adequately address the special needs of children; the relatively low hospitalization and death rates of children in the COVID-19 pandemic may result in the continuation of those needs being overlooked [3]. Additionally, the needs of children in low-resource settings, which differ in many ways from those of wealthier settings, may be even further at stake. As health systems begin to reassess their preparedness plans, this pandemic gives the world the opportunity to put safety measures in place to protect children now, and in turn to prepare for future outbreaks that will, sooner or later, affect children to a greater degree than this pandemic has thus far.