Abstract
PA-668
Background
Africa’s weaknesses in responding to public
health emergencies triggered the University of Cabo
Verde’s EDCTP/Africa CDC supported b-learning Field
Epidemiology Program (2022-2024), after Mozambique´s
and Angola’s experiences. The Program targets 15
students from Cabo Verde (CV)(6), Guiné-Bissau (GB)(6)
and São Tomé e Príncipe (3). Groups of three students
completed their first field training, producing reports
focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or One
Health Surveillance within existing health information
systems (HIS).
Methods
During field training students, supported by
site supervisors and tutors, selected a HIS, described it,
assessed its quality, and identified opportunities for
improvements, namely on the possibility to expand its
One Health scope.
Results
In the three countries, the HIS for human health
is structured around the platform District Health
Information System 2 (DHIS2) complemented by
population-based surveys. Clinical and public health
services, disease programs and surveillance systems are
supposed to feed their data into the DHIS2, mostly
manually, although this does not always happen. AMR is
not regularly monitored for lack of laboratory capacity for
antibiograms; when done, it is mostly related to
tuberculosis. GB is the only country reporting a National
HIS Strategic Plan. Private care providers/services are not
included in the DHIS2 data/information circuits.
Animal/plant health have separate information systems
with variable degrees of sophistication. CV is the only
country reporting the development of coordination
structures with animal and environmental HIS.
Besides these experiences, students analyzed disease
related data (diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, HIV,
tuberculosis) and participated in outbreak investigations
(shigella, influenza, rubella).
Conclusion
Key obstacles to develop One Health
Information Systems are siloed structures for human,
animal and environmental HIS, but also significant blind
spots in human HIS, related to programs and services
that do not dialogue with DHIS2, lack of capacity to
obtain laboratory-based data and a private sector
growing outside relevant data/information circuits.
Background
Africa’s weaknesses in responding to public
health emergencies triggered the University of Cabo
Verde’s EDCTP/Africa CDC supported b-learning Field
Epidemiology Program (2022-2024), after Mozambique´s
and Angola’s experiences. The Program targets 15
students from Cabo Verde (CV)(6), Guiné-Bissau (GB)(6)
and São Tomé e Príncipe (3). Groups of three students
completed their first field training, producing reports
focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or One
Health Surveillance within existing health information
systems (HIS).
Methods
During field training students, supported by
site supervisors and tutors, selected a HIS, described it,
assessed its quality, and identified opportunities for
improvements, namely on the possibility to expand its
One Health scope.
Results
In the three countries, the HIS for human health
is structured around the platform District Health
Information System 2 (DHIS2) complemented by
population-based surveys. Clinical and public health
services, disease programs and surveillance systems are
supposed to feed their data into the DHIS2, mostly
manually, although this does not always happen. AMR is
not regularly monitored for lack of laboratory capacity for
antibiograms; when done, it is mostly related to
tuberculosis. GB is the only country reporting a National
HIS Strategic Plan. Private care providers/services are not
included in the DHIS2 data/information circuits.
Animal/plant health have separate information systems
with variable degrees of sophistication. CV is the only
country reporting the development of coordination
structures with animal and environmental HIS.
Besides these experiences, students analyzed disease
related data (diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, HIV,
tuberculosis) and participated in outbreak investigations
(shigella, influenza, rubella).
Conclusion
Key obstacles to develop One Health
Information Systems are siloed structures for human,
animal and environmental HIS, but also significant blind
spots in human HIS, related to programs and services
that do not dialogue with DHIS2, lack of capacity to
obtain laboratory-based data and a private sector
growing outside relevant data/information circuits.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 152 |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Event | EDCTP Forum: Partnering for Global Health Research Innovation and Impact in Africa - Paris, France, Paris, France Duration: 7 Nov 2023 → 10 Nov 2023 Conference number: 11 |
Conference
| Conference | EDCTP Forum |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | EDCTP Forum |
| Country/Territory | France |
| City | Paris |
| Period | 7/11/23 → 10/11/23 |
