Evaluation of the Implementation and utilisation of a Case Based Diseases Surveillance (electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Reporting (eIDSR-CBS)) in the West Nile region: August 2018 to February 2019

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.07.04.Art004

Authors : Prosper Behumbiize, John Lule, Bridget Magoba, Carol Kyozira, Joshua Kayiya

Abstract:

Introduction: West Nile is vulnerable to repeated disease outbreaks due to instability and refugees from South Sudan and Congo. Uganda is implementing integrated disease surveillance (IDSR) and piloting electronic IDSR (eIDSR-CBS) with Global Health Security Agenda, Infectious disease institute (IDI) and HISP-Uganda between January 2018 to February 2019 in West Nile. This study determined utilization and challenges of implementing eIDSR-CBS, whose aim was improving real-time disease reporting and building capacity of surveillance staff in eIDSR-CBS real-time disease reporting.

Methodology: DSFP were trained to train others in eIDSR-CBS, trained other staff, distributed eIDSR-CBS materials and conducted support supervision. In a cross-section evaluation, project documents review and in-depth interviews provided data for utilisation, project relevancy, effectiveness of implementation, collaborations, sustainability, challenges and lessons learned.

Findings: eIDSR-CBS used SMS, Web and Android platforms, DSFP supported 1,071 staff in 256 e-IDSR trainings, supported 82% of 363 facilities, distributed 362 IDSR and 1072 eIDSR-CBS materials and 1953 SMS messages. Of 39 facilities, 79% conduct IDSR, 54% e-IDSR, 92% had IDSR and 98% eIDSR-CBS materials. The project built eIDSR-CBS capacity of staff, enhanced collaboration and communication among s stakeholders, was sustainable with improved skills, utilised existing MoH structures and engaging stakeholders.

Conclusion: Implementing eIDSR-CBS is feasible in existing MoH structures, with cascade-trainings multiplier effect exponentially disseminating eIDSR-CBS knowledge, trainers and staff and effectively creating ownership, responsibility and sustainability. eIDSR-CBS cascading needs scale-up for early disease outbreak detection.

Keywords: SMS (6767) alerting, case-based disease surveillance, integrated disease surveillance, eIDSR-CBS, IDSR, West Nile Region Uganda.

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