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WHO Involvement in Disease
Surveillance in India
The NSPCD was initiated
in 1998 as a pilot project with WHO supporting the initial 5 districts. It
has subsequently expanded to 101 districts. The main objective of this
programme is to:
Detect outbreaks and
respond immediately
National Institute for
Communicable Diseases is the coordinating agency for the NSPCD. WHO’s
involvement has been in term of providing technical assistance to NICD to
analyse the data, supervise the districts and help in outbreak
investigations. An epidemiologist and a microbiologist have been placed in
NICD and they work with the NICD staff in implementing this programme.
Integrated Disease
Surveillance Programme (IDSP)
The Government of India
is building on the experiences of the NSPCD and is developing an Integrated
Disease Surveillance Programme. WHO’s inputs into this has been in the
development of an Operations Manual and also developing the Training
strategy. WHO has also provided technical feedback on the PIP which is to be
submitted to the World Bank.
Strengthening Disease
Surveillance in Orissa and Gujarat
Following the disasters
in Orissa (1999) and Gujarat (2001), WHO was
involved in relief and rehabilitation in these two states. As a part of this
package, WHO developed the disease surveillance programmes in these states.
Training
Realising the limited
capacity of the health staff in field epidemiology, the WHO has been investing
in technical assistance to National institutions so that they can train
doctors in Field Epidemiology. 2 such courses are currently being supported
by WHO – the 3 month FETP at NICD and the 2 year FETP at NIE. Other than
this, the WHO supports various short course training programmes.
IT in surveillance
Geographical
Information System (GIS)
WHO has been in the
forefront of introducing IT to surveillance in India. In Maharashtra,
WHO has been supporting the use of GIS in surveillance in 13 districts. This
involved customising the WHO software – HealthMapper for the needs of Maharashtra and conducting training programme for the
staff of these 13 districts. In these districts, GIS is being used as a
regular tool for mapping outbreaks.
Computerization of the
surveillance system
WHO is in the process of
computerising the surveillance system in
the states of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Computers have been provided to the districts and the relevant staff will be
trained in computer applications vis-à-vis surveillance. This will result in
faster transmission of information in both directions and prompt action in
the management of outbreaks.
Research in
surveillance
WHO is supporting 2
Operations research initiatives on the involvement medical colleges and private
practitioners in public health surveillance. Lessons learnt from these ORs
will support the IDSP.
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