Stakeholders’ assessment of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s contributions to the development of National Public Health Institutes in seven countries

• Published in: Journal of public health policy Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 589 - 601
• Main Authors: Woldetsadik, Mahlet A., Fitzpatrick, Kaitlin, Del Castillo, Lisetta, Miller, Bridget, Jarvis, Dennis, Carnevale, Caroline, Ravat, Fatima, Cassell, Cynthia H., Williams, Alice, Young, Stephanie K., Clemente, Jacob, Baggett, Henry C., Bratton, Shelly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Palgrave Macmillan UK 01-12-2021; Palgrave Macmillan
• Subjects: Capacity Building; Capacity building approach; Capacity development; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S; Disease control; Emergencies; Emergency response; Equality and Human Rights; Global Health; Health care; Humans; Institutes; Institution building; International Cooperation; Medical Sociology; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; Original Article; Prevention; Priorities; Public buildings; Public Health; Social Justice; Social Policy; Social Sciences; Sociology; Strengthening; Technical assistance; United States; Workforce; United States; United States > US; NPHI development; Workforce; National Public Health Institutes; CDC; International Health Regulations (IHR); Global health security
• ISSN: 0197-5897; 1745-655X
• DOI: 10.1057/s41271-021-00310-0

National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) can strengthen countries’ public health capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies. This qualitative evaluation assessed the role of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in NPHI development and strengthening of public health functions. We interviewed NPHI staff (
N
 = 43), non-NPHI government staff (
N
 = 29), and non-governmental organization staff (
N
 = 24) in seven countries where CDC has supported NPHI development: Cambodia, Colombia, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia. Participants identified four areas of support that were the most important: workforce capacity building, technical assistance for key public health functions, identifying institutional gaps and priorities, and funding to support countries’ priorities. Participants underscored the need for capacity building directed toward country-driven priorities during planning and implementation. Continued support for NPHI development from CDC and other partners is vital to building stronger public health systems, improving population health, and strengthening global health security.