Background of DEWS in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a destitute country with limited infrastructures for soundness service delivery and has one of the master maternal and child health indicators in the creation.
Disease profile in Afghanistan is obviously dominated ~ means of communicable disease. Of 22,571,203 consultations betwixt March 2007 and end June 2008, ARI cases were 6,880,051(30.5%), Diarrheal Disease were 2,595,290(11.5%) ,Urinary pamphlet infections are 1,250,167(5.5%), Malaria cases are 343,647(1.5%) and TB cases are reported to subsist 169,563 cases which is 0.8%.[1]
The uniform source of data collection in the rude is HMIS that collects data quarterly and reports 04 epochs a year. That is in real existence too late for most of discerning public health emergencies and only be possible to lead MOPH in terms of lingering term policy making and can not contract data/information for day to twenty-four hours management of MOPH, which can terminate immediate corrective measures and prevent deaths.
To contract incidence and prevalence of morbidities and mortalities in the children and women and finally reduce economic loss, MoPH has established Early Warning System in 08 regional provinces of rural.
Objectives:
To reduce morbidity and frequency of death by early detection, investigation, response and control of outbreaks and other public health states and conditions, throughout the country.
Methodology:
Disease Early Warning System was established in the nation mid December 2006 in the eight major provinces of the country. The earliest officers recruited and deployed to the field after extensive short term training. The primary eight sites were the provincial hospitals in Badakhshan, Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar , Khost and Nangarhar (See chart.)
The DEWS was worked in these provinces in the in the beginning 06 months of 2007 and than extended to other provinces. At the expiration of first six months DEWS had 58 guardsman sites in 08 provinces and while of 10 November 2008, DEWS has 129 guardsman sites all over the country.
Result/Achievements
Afghan Public Health Institute has established 129 sentry reporting sites in 34 provinces of the population covering 93 rural districts and 34 cities. In whole 8995 weekly reports were due and 8866 reports accepted on time and on time reporting defame is calculated to be 98.5%.
Since 15 December 2006, 3418 specimens in quest of different disease collected and 613 were absolute for different disease. (Rotavirus in not included), positivity charge around 17%.
133 suspected outbreaks investigated in 2007 and 231 outbreaks investigated dress the ground Nov 2008.
DEWS has established the rotavirus watch in three provinces of the population and 522 specimens collected, 294 were unconditional for rotavirus, positivity rate 57%.
Below malady and causative agents detected/confirmed against the first time inside the unrefined, Hepatitis E, C. Diphtheria, Influenza B poison , B. Pertussis, yersina pestis(causative force for plague- Bubonic form).
DEWS bring forth responded to 27 suspected outbreaks of Avian Influenza in human, desert to mention that 12 outbreaks reported in bird population in 2007 and 1in 2008 through Ministry of Agriculture. 85000 people are monitored on this account that Sever Acute Respiratory Infection and none evidence of H5N1 in human detected by virology lab of Central Public Health Lab and NAMRU-3 Lab in Cairo.
Conclusion
A full functional Disease Early Warning System established in the rude. 364 outbreaks detected and responded. Every 1.8 days united suspected outbreak investigated. Necessary response machinery established at the provincial and regional levels.
DEWS is providing sentient surveillance in a timely manner. Investigations lead quick action to mitigate outbreaks and preclude morbidity and mortality. DEWS is furthermore participating in coordination of public freedom from disease inputs in the field, dissemination of general health information, and investigating and confirming webwork outbreaks of emerging diseases.
[1] HMIS Report 2007 and first quarter 2008