Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
Overview
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Eswatini is implementing the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) which was adopted in 2012 to abide with the International Health Regualtions (IHR 2005). The IDSR system in Eswatini provides coordinated, comprehensive and integrated surveillance system for all diseases, health conditions and events to improve early detection and response strategies to attain health for all people using the One Health Approach.
Primary Objectives
- Strengthen effective surveillance activities in Eswatini through training personnel at all levels; developing and carrying out plans of action; and advocating and mobilizing resources.
- Increase involvement of clinicians and other cadres of health staff in the surveillance activities.
- Integrate multiple surveillance systems so that tools, personnel and resources are used more efficiently.ie Malaria, EPI.
- Improve the triangulation and use of information to detect changes in trend in order to conduct a rapid response to suspected and confirmed outbreaks; monitor the impact of interventions and to facilitate evidence-based response to public health events; health policy design; planning; and management.
- Improve the flow of surveillance information between and within levels of the health system using electronic tools.
- Build strong laboratory systems and networks at national, regional/ and health facility levels to confirm pathogens and other hazards, monitor of drug sensitivity and increase efficacy of point-of-care tests.
- Trigger epidemiological investigations of reported public health problems and the implementation of effective public health interventions.
- Mount an effective response to public health emergencies.
- Emphasize community participation in detection, reporting and response to public health problems including case-based and event-based surveillance and response and risk communication in line with International Health Regulations (IHR.
The country is currently rolling out the use of the 3rd of Edition of IDSR with the aim has a strong emphasis on the strengthening of community surveillance and the implementation of multi-sectoral coordination through the “One Health Approach”.