Table 3.

strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats at PoEs in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, February - July, 2020

	Strengths	Challenges	Opportunities	Threats
Organization of PoEs	Existence of decrees and ministerial acts in some ECOWAS countries Designation of official POEs according to the provisions of IHR (2005). High turnover of staff managing PoEs in ECOWAS countries	Porous borders (entry of people through unofficial border crossings following border closures), ill traveller detection and traveller monitoring strategy, community stakeholder engagement. High number of non-designated POEs.	Advocacy to high- level authorities in the region	Political instabilities
Coordination, Legal Enforcement and Planning	Availability of international guidances such as IHR (2005) Availability of political commitment for POEs and cross-border activities such as Protocol of creation of WAHO, Guidelines for harmonizing the movement of persons in ECOWAS region, Existing collaboration mechanisms in West Africa (UEMOA, Mano River Union Keen interest of Member States in adapting plans and SOPs for facilitating information sharing at PoEs. Establishment of National taskforces focussing on the COVID-19 response at POEs in ECOWAS region. Existence of the networks of national public health institutes and port health services	Poor coordination of intersectoral collaboration. Inadequate or lack of cross-border cooperation. Lack of response plans for public health emergencies specific to each designated PoEas recommended in the IHR (2005). Lack of harmonized traveller screening measures with other countries. Lack of a framework/platform for exchanges between POE stakeholders. Need for holding regular simulation exercises. Lack of standard operating procedures in some POEs. Lack of coordination of PoEs s activities at national level across sectors	Willingness of technical and financial partners to support points of entries activities (WHO, AFENET, Africa CDC IOM, ALCOL, Pro Health International)	Political instabilities in some countries thus affecting government commitments into PoE activities.