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In a breakthrough study published on May 9 in the esteemed open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health, Dr. Nadia Akseer, an esteemed Epidemiologist-Biostatistician from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, alongside her colleagues in the Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) program, shed light on the common drivers behind the exceptional performance of certain countries in public health outcomes. This comprehensive analysis offers invaluable insights into the strategies that have propelled these nations to achieve remarkable success in health interventions, regardless of their economic status.
The EGH program, renowned for its pursuit of positive outliers in global health initiatives, has embarked on a mission to decipher not just the efficacy of health interventions but also the methodologies responsible for their successful execution. These outliers have exhibited unparalleled success, defying economic constraints within their respective countries.
This latest study delves into the meticulous examination of 31 previous EGH investigations spanning six critical topics, ranging from under-five child mortality to COVID-19 response strategies, across 19 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Through this rigorous analysis, the EGH team unearthed common threads and patterns contributing to programmatic triumphs.
The research identified eight overarching themes prevalent among the positive outliers, including efficient data systems, effective leadership, stakeholder coordination, a skilled workforce, women’s empowerment, conducive national policies, sustainable financing, and extensive outreach. Notably, these themes resonate with existing efforts aimed at dissecting the drivers of global health enhancements, aligning closely with the World Health Organization’s Health Systems Framework.
According to the authors, these findings underscore a set of fundamental principles that should underpin national health policies and strategies worldwide. Dr. Akseer emphasizes the potential of this study to guide funders, policymakers, and stakeholders in formulating evidence-based policies geared towards optimizing health outcomes and fostering human development.
“In analyzing 19 countries globally, Exemplars in Global Health found that those achieving some of the greatest progress in public health all focused on similar priorities. By sharing key lessons on how they improved, our hope is that we can help country leaders, funders, and global partners craft evidence-based policies that best allocate resources— and, in doing so, enhance health outcomes around the world,” expressed Dr. Akseer.
This groundbreaking research, encapsulated in the paper titled “Drivers of success in global health outcomes: A content analysis of Exemplar studies,” represents a pivotal step forward in understanding and replicating the success stories of nations leading the charge towards a healthier, more equitable world.
