246775 Factors of success and challenges in the implementation of the integrated disease surveillance and response systems in Africa

Monday, October 31, 2011: 1:24 PM

Francis Kasolo, MD, MSc, PhD, DTM&H RCP , Disease Prevention and Control Cluster, Integrated Disease Surveillance, World Health Organization -Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo-Brazzaville
Helen Perry, PhD , Center for Global Health, Division of Public Health Systems and Workforce Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Peter Gaturuku, MD, DPH, MSC , Disease Prevention and Control Cluster, Integrated Disease Surveillance, World Health Organization -Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo-Brazzaville
Zabulon Yoti, MD, DTM&H, MPH , Disease Prevention and Control Cluster, Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response, World Health Organization -Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo-Brazzaville
Fernando da Silveira, MD, MPH, MSc CD Epidemiology , Integrated Disease Surveillance & International Health Regulations, World Health Organization –Inter Country Support Team Central Africa, Libreville, Gabon
Sambe Duale, MD, MPH , Technical Director and Infectious Disease Advisor, Africa 2010 Project, Washington, DC
Kevin Embrey, MPH , Center for Global Health, Division of Public Health Systems and Workforce Development, ASPH-CDC Public Health Fellow, Atlanta, GA
Disease surveillance is a critical public health tool for early detection, prevention and response to disease threats. To improve their surveillance systems, African countries adopted Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDS) in 1998. The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), provided support for the implementation of the strategy. The adoption of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and emergence of new disease priorities led WHO/AFRO and its technical partners to revise the IDSR Technical Guidelines. Part of the process involved a rapid assessment of IDSR implementation conducted between May and June 2010 in 45 countries. National surveillance officers completed questionnaires to report progress with implementation measured by IDSR core indicators. Respondents also provided narrative comments on perceived factors of success and challenges for meeting indicator targets. We conducted a content analysis of the narrative responses using Atlas.ti to code responses and identify themes. Themes were ranked according to number of responses. Findings from the analysis suggested critical areas for achieving satisfactory outcomes from surveillance systems. These include adequately trained and supported workforce, access to training for staff at sub-national levels, effective supervision, and the ability to communicate information, sufficient financial resources and infrastructure for surveillance including laboratory capacity. The 2010 IDSR Rapid Assessment identified priority areas to be considered by programs, institutions, and donors for inclusion in future workplans and activities aimed at supporting Ministries of Health to strengthen surveillance systems. Seeking views of surveillance personnel provides useful insights into practical problems requiring attention during the planning stage.

Learning Areas:
Program planning
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify key success factors for strengthening disease surveillance and response systems 2. Describe important challenges to surveillance system functioning in Africa 3. Identify target areas for systems strengthening interventions for improving disease surveillance capacities in Africa

Keywords: International Public Health, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the deputy director of this project and have made substantive contributions to this study in the design of the protocol and questionnaire and in organizating the analysis of the data. I have been a key principal in this overall collaboration since 1999.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.