Background
This research will help the planners at all levels of the health system to develop a general framework for a vision, strategies and routine operational plans for strengthening surveillance and response. Involvement of the stakeholders from different levels of the surveillance system in analysing the feasibility and implementation of the improved communicable diseases surveillance system in Khartoum State will further enhance the sustainability of the surveillance system. It gives an example of a developing country communicable diseases surveillance system situation
Purpose
To describe and assess the functions and activities of communicable diseases surveillance system in Khartoum State in 2005- 2007.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective study design will be used to assess the system. In studying the feasibility and implementation of the improved surveillance system qualitative health policy method (focus group/Delphi) will be used.
Communicable diseases surveillance and response at the central, locality, health area and health facility levels in Khartoum state are included. The data were gathered from the years 2005 to 2007. The study population comprises all epidemiology departments/units (n=177) from the levels of the state (n=1), locality (n=7), and health area (n=19), health facilities (n=150) participating in the surveillance system. No sampling procedure is used in this study because all epidemiological units are studied. Three main mechanisms are used to collect the required data: record review, survey, personal and group interviews, and focus group/Delphi workshop.
Results
Sahal N, Reintjes R, Aro AR. Communicable diseases surveillance lessons learned from developed and developing countries: Literature review. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 2009; 37(2):187- 200.
Assessment of core activities and supportive functions of the communicable diseases surveillance system in Khartoum state, Sudan for the years 2005 – 2007. Accepted in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Journal of Health.
A manuscript under preparation concerns staff views about the quality of the communicable diseases surveillance system in Khartoum state .(2011)
Timeframe: March 1st, 2007 – October 31st, 2011
Supervisors: Arja R. Aro, SDU; Ralf Reintjes, European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy;
Project supervisor in Khartoum: Dr. El tayeb, Elsadig Mahgoub, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan and the National AFP Surveillance coordinator, Sudan (WHO/SSA)
External funding: Ministry of Health Khartoum State, Sudan.