Health Crisis Management and Its Role in Combating Infection in Tripoli Hospitals

Abstract

Hospitals in Tripoli face ongoing challenges in managing health crises, especially during the spread of infections, due to weak pre-planning, limited material and human resources, and poor coordination among administrative and medical staff. Additionally, the non-compliance of some workers with preventive measures increases the likelihood of infection transmission, coupled with insufficient post-crisis performance evaluation, which limits the hospitals' readiness to handle similar future crises. To address this issue, data were collected from hospital staff using a questionnaire focusing on their knowledge of the role of crisis management, the existence of preventive plans, their experience in handling crises, and the response and evaluation mechanisms after the crisis. The questionnaire allowed assessment of strengths and weaknesses in hospital crisis management and provided insights into the level of adherence to preventive measures. The results showed that 46% of staff were unaware of the role of crisis management in controlling infection spread, while 56% recognized its importance. Moreover, 70% reported the absence of preventive plans before crises, compared to 30% who confirmed their existence. Additionally, 71% believed that crisis management contributes to rapid containment of infection sources. Regarding post-crisis procedures, 55% indicated the presence of performance evaluation to improve readiness, whereas 45% disagreed, and 52% of participants had experience in health crisis management, compared to 48% without experience. The importance of this study lies in highlighting the role of crisis management in supporting infection control programs, identifying key challenges such as weak coordination and resource limitations, and enhancing staff knowledge and practical experience. It also provides a scientific basis for health administrations to develop policies and strategies, improve preventive measures, and strengthen crisis response, thereby reducing infection transmission and enhancing the safety of patients and healthcare workers