Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) is a strategy of the World Health Organization African Regional Office (WHO AFRO) adopted by member states in 1998. The IDSR strategy aims to improve the availability and use of surveillance and laboratory data for control of priority infectious diseases that are the leading cause of death, disability, and illness in the African region.
The CDC provides technical assistance to WHO AFRO and African ministries of health through a cross-center partnership led by the CCID/Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases (DBMD), the Coordinating Office of Global Health (OGH) / Division of Epidemiology and Surveillance Capacity Development, and the National Immunization Program (NIP)/Global Division/Center Immunization.
These organizations provide their own area of expertise in assisting WHO AFRO with strategies and activities for improving surveillance and response to priority infectious diseases in the African region. Some of these include IDSR indicators for monitoring and evaluation, data management, data analysis and interpretation, and strengthening laboratory capacity to support surveillance activities.
The Division of Emerging Infections and Surveillance Services (DEISS) provides expertise in the design, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of IDSR strategies and tools for disease surveillance and laboratory confirmation in the WHO African region and with targeted countries.
The Division of Epidemiology and Surveillance Capacity Development (DESCD), COGH provides expertise in strengthening surveillance systems in targeted countries so they can function independently. DESCD also assists in developing a culture of information that successfully incorporates the use of this information in decision making at all levels of a surveillance system.
The Global Immunization Division (GID), NIP provides expertise in surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases and in integrated data management for EPI-related surveillance, routine immunization, and IDSR.
DEISS, DESCD and GID share funding, materials and resources for IDSR activities, and link with experts in other CDC programs and public health agencies.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supports IDSR activities through separate agreements with DEISS and DESCD.
"Within ten years, all Member States will have established an effective and functional IDSR system that will generate information for timely action thus contributing to the reduction of mortality, disability and morbidity."
WHO-AFRO Regional Committee, September 1998 |
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