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Detecting, reporting, and analysis of priority diseases for routine public health surveillance in Liberia

Detecting, reporting, and analysis of priority diseases for routine public health surveillance in Liberia

Joseph Asamoah Frimpong1,&, Meeyoung Mattie Park2, Maame Pokuah Amo-Addae1, Peter Adebayo Adewuyi1, Thomas Knue Nagbe3

 

1Liberia Field Epidemiology Training Program, Monrovia, Liberia, 2Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA, 3Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia

 

 

&Corresponding author
Joseph Asamoah Frimpong, Liberia Field Epidemiology Training Program, Monrovia, Liberia

 

 

Abstract

An essential component of a public health surveillance system is its ability to detect priority diseases which fall within the mandate of public health officials at all levels. Early detection, reporting and response to public health events help to reduce the burden of mortality and morbidity on communities. Analysis of reliable surveillance data provides relevant information which can enable implementation of timely and appropriate public health interventions. To ensure that a resilient system is in place, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided guidelines for detection, reporting and response to public health events in the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy. This case study provides training on detection, reporting and analysis of priority diseases for routine public health surveillance in Liberia and highlights potential errors and challenges which can hinder effective surveillance. Table-top exercises and group discussion lead participants through a simulated verification and analyses of summary case reports in the role of the District Surveillance Officer. This case study is intended for public health training in a classroom setting and can be accomplished within 2 hours 30 minutes. The target audience include residents in Frontline Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP-Frontline), Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTPs), and others who are interested in this topic.

 

 

How to use this case study    Down

General instructions: ideally, 1 to 2 instructors facilitate the case study for 8 to 20 students in a classroom or conference room setting. The instructor should direct participants to read a paragraph out loud, going around the room to give each participant a chance to read. When the participant reads a question, the instructor directs all participants to answer or engage in discussions. The instructor may split the class to play different roles or take different sides in answering a question. As a result, participants learn from each other, not just from the instructors. Specific instructor’s notes are included with each question in the instructor’s version of this case study.

 

Audience: residents in Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP-Frontline), Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTPs), and others who are interested in this topic.

 

Prerequisites: before using this case study, case study participants should have received training in Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response protocols.

 

Materials needed: laptop with Microsoft Office applications, flipchart or white board with markers

 

Level of training and associated public health activity: basic – public health surveillance

 

Time required: approximately 2 ˝ hours

 

Language: English

 

 

Case study material Up    Down

 

 

Competing interests Up    Down

The authors declare no competing interest.

 

 

Acknowledgments Up    Down

We wish to thank African Field Epidemiology Network and Emory University for supporting African-based case study development. We acknowledge residents of the Liberia Field Epidemiology Training Program and Ministry of Health, Liberia for allowing us to use their data for this case study.

 

 

References Up    Down

  1. Liberia Ministry of Health. National Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response. Monrovia, Liberia. 2015. Google Scholar

  2. CDC. IDSR Technical Guidelines. 2012. Google Scholar

  3. Liberia Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance. Monrovia, Republic of Liberia. 2016. Google Scholar

  4. WHO. International Health Regulations (IHR). 3rd edition. Geneva, Switzerland. 2016.