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Feasibility Study: EAP for Measles in DRC
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Feasibility Study: EAP for Measles in DRC
Feasibility Study: EAP for Measles in DRC
Early Action Protocols (EAPs) are plans developed by National Societies that outline the anticipatory actions to be taken when a specific hazard, or an epidemic, is forecast and likely to impact communities. These protocols and early actions are based on a Forecast-based Financing (FbF) approach.
Developed by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, forecast-based actions make it possible to anticipate and act proactively following a disaster forecast rather than wait for the actual impact. The concept aims to take advantage of the window between a forecast event and its occurrence to implement early measures that help communities anticipate the hazard, protect lives and safeguard livelihoods.
Forecast-based actions combine meteorological forecasting or epidemic monitoring with risk analysis to anticipate and reduce the impact of disasters and/or epidemics, thus strengthening community resilience.
This activity involves conducting a feasibility study to establish a forecasting and early action model for an epidemic-prone disease—measles—with the aim of anticipating and reducing its humanitarian impact in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The study assesses the epidemiological risk of measles and its effects in the country, along with the capacity of national and Red Cross systems for surveillance, forecasting, alert and response. It also provides recommendations for the full development of a measles Early Action Protocol (EAP) in the DRC.
In collaboration with:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFCR)
510 Centre (Netherlands Red Cross)
School of Advanced Studies in Public Health, Rennes (EHESP)
Adaptability and relevance
While the FbF approach has been widely applied in the context of natural hazards (such as floods or droughts) it is still being tested in relation to epidemics. As part of the RIPOSTE programme, measles outbreaks in the DRC were selected due to the country’s humanitarian and epidemiological context. Indeed, the DRC remains among the world’s poorest nations (ranked 175th out of 189 countries on the UNDP’s Human Development Index). It ranks 8th out of 189 according to INFORM Risk, with a score of 8.3 out of 10 for epidemic exposure and vulnerability, despite its vast natural resources.
The country is frequently affected by epidemics. Between 2018 and 2020, its population endured the worst Ebola outbreak in its history, declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO. In addition, since early 2019, the country has faced its most severe measles outbreak to date, resulting in the deaths of over 5,300 children under the age of five.
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Find out more
Mathilde Duchemin, technical referent for Disaster Risk Management at the French Red Cross, explains the objectives, the methodology and the content of the feasibility study for a measles forecasting model in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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