South Sudan National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2020-2024.

The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) is a comprehensive document designed to address various emergencies faced by the country. These incidents underscore the importance of collaborative efforts across multiple sectors and the entire government to ensure effective preparedness and response. The NAPHS aims to boost national development by (i) adopting the One Health Strategy to prevent and mitigate emergency effects and (ii) fostering national capacities to create a resilient nation capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to any public health threats. Implementation of the NAPHS is crucial for safeguarding the health of the human population, livestock, wildlife, and the environment. This necessitates the development of a one health policy to coordinate interventions across different Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the government. The specific objectives of the National Action Plan for Health Security include (i) building, strengthening, and sustaining national capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks and health emergencies; (ii) establishing a robust health emergency risk assessment and management system aligned with the One Health approach; (iii) enhancing collaboration and coordination mechanisms for NAPHS implementation through the application of multi-sectoral and one health approaches; (iv) mapping existing and potential domestic and external financing to support NAPHS delivery; (v) building, strengthening, and maintaining strategic partnerships using the One Health, all-hazards, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach; and (vi) developing an effective monitoring and evaluation system for health security through the implementation of the One Health Strategy.
The document provides for the formation of a National Steering Committee (NSC) with the primary purpose of overseeing and, when necessary, coordinating the development and implementation of the NAPHS across all sectors. Its scope encompasses all aspects of the NAPHS framework, including the country's inception, development, and implementation activities. The NSC plays a leadership role in creating a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing and experience exchange. The NSC shall be responsible for selecting a chairperson on a rotational basis with suitable status. External interactions are emphasized, with collaboration with internal and external partners, agencies, and organizations considered essential, and WHO offices aiding Member States in identifying and coordinating with external partners for resource mobilization. Internal interactions involve linking the NAPHS with national sectoral development plans, emergency preparedness and response plans, and specific disease-related programs. Integration into existing health systems, animal health, and other relevant sectors is crucial, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for effective functioning.
The primary areas of focus include (i) establish a robust legal framework to support obligations and rights under the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005. This may involve enacting new legislation or modifying existing laws to align with IHR (2005) requirements; (ii) a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach, facilitated through national partnerships, is crucial. These partnerships aim to establish efficient, alert, and responsive systems; (iii) support collaborative efforts led by FAO, OIE, and WHO to develop a globally integrated package of activities addressing antimicrobial resistance across human, animal, agricultural, food, and environmental aspects, emphasizing the One Health perspective; (iv) adopt measures, behaviors, policies, and practices to minimize the transmission of zoonotic diseases from animals to human populations; (v) strengthen surveillance and response capacity for food- and water-borne disease risks by enhancing communication and collaboration among sectors responsible for food safety, water, and sanitation; (vi) establish a comprehensive national biosafety and biosecurity system that spans the entire government. This system should identify, secure, and monitor hazardous pathogens in a limited number of facilities, following best practices. Ongoing training and educational outreach on biological risk management are essential to foster a collective sense of responsibility; (vii) develop a national vaccine delivery system with nationwide reach, effective distribution, access for marginalized populations, an adequate cold chain, and ongoing quality control to respond to new disease threats.