CIMTRADZ Capacity building in Integrated Management of Trans-boundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses John Kaneene, John David Kabasa, Michael Muleme, Joyce Nguna, Richard Mafigiri, Doreen Birungi 1
Assessment of Human and Animal Disease Surveillance Systems in the East-Central Africa Infectious Disease Hotspot A Case Study of Uganda 2
Assessment of Human Disease Surveillance Systems in the East-Central Africa Infectious Disease Hotspot: A Case Study of Uganda Michael Muleme 1, Joyce Nguna 1, Richard Mafigiri 1, Doreen Birungi 1, John David Kabasa 1, John B. Kaneene 2 1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda 2. Center for Comparative Epidemiology, Michigan State University, Michigan, United States of America Corresponding author John Kaneene Center for Comparative Epidemiology 736 Wilson Rd, Room A-109 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824 Email: kaneenej@cvm.msu.edu Phone: (517) 355-2269 OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the extent of human disease surveillance systems in East -Central Africa s infectious disease hotspot using Uganda as a case study. METHODS: Questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, and site-visits to selected health units in Uganda s four regions were used to describe the types of disease surveillance systems used, diseases and population targeted, and surveillance support infrastructure (laboratories, communication, and data management). RESULTS: 93%, 76%, 92%, and 83% of surveyed health units carried out disease-specific, syndromic, passive, and active surveillance, respectively. Surveillance in >67% of the health facilities targeted malaria, AIDS, and immunizable diseases, while <16% of the health units carried out surveillance for non-infectious and zoonotic diseases. The majority (99%) of health units reported weekly surveillance data using phones. Only 33% of health units used electronic data management tools. Processing of surveillance data was done by clinical personnel in 55% of the health units. CONCLUSIONS: Human disease surveillance targeted malaria, AIDS, and immunizable diseases. Non -infectious and zoonotic disease surveillance, establishing electronic data management systems, and training of personnel must be implemented to improve human disease surveillance in Uganda. 3
A comparative assessment of the animal and human disease surveillance systems in the East-Central Africa infectious disease hot-spot, 2013: A case study of Uganda Michael Muleme a, Richard Mafigiri a, Joyce Nguna a, Doreen Birungi a, John David Kabasa a, John B. Kaneene b a College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda b Center for Comparative Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East-Lansing, United States of America Corresponding author: Michael Muleme Email: mmuleme@covab.mak.ac.ug Tel: +256777866551 Abstract: This study aimed to compare the current status of the veterinary surveillance system to that of the human surveillance system as well as to assess the ability of the two systems in dealing with emerging infectious diseases. The human surveillance system in Uganda had a better layed-out structure with health units of all levels (HC II, III, IV hospitals and central units all involved in disease surveillance and laboratory disease detection depending on the resources and skills of the health personnel managing that level of facility. The human health data management was also boasted by an efficient mobile-based data transfer system which was used by 74 out of the 75 health units involved in the study. Conversely, the veterinary surveillance system which has limited functionality and few laboratory infrastructure at units (1 out of 11) below the District Veterinary Office. The veterinary surveillance systems also lacked a real-time data management programs which necessitates the need to improve animal disease laboratory units, data management and recruitment of veterinary personnel at subcounties. More veterinary health units (64%), however, targeted zoonotic diseases compared to the human surveillance systems (12%) which underscores the need to integrate zoonotic disease surveillance in both human and animal health services. None the less both human and veterinary disease surveillance systems had inadequate data management personnel and were characterized by limited integration of communication and surveillance reports systems generated by human and animal health units. Acknowledgement: This report was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the Africa U.S. Integrated Disease Management Network (AFRUS-IDM) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. 4
INTRODUCTION Thank you for participating in this survey. By completing this questionnaire, you will provide us with valuable information needed to assess current disease surveillance systems in Uganda. SECTION 1: TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS CURRENTLY PRESENT IN UGANDA Please describe the surveillance systems that you are aware of that have been used in Uganda Problem based Surveillance: These are surveillance systems designed to investigate specific disease problems (e.g., tuberculosis, abortions) 1. List any disease-specific surveillance Programs: These are Programs for disease outbreaks where a single cause has been identified (e.g., anthrax, Ebola) 1.1 Human surveillance systems: 1.2 Animal surveillance systems: 2. List any syndromic surveillance Programs: These are Programs for outbreaks or epidemics of syndromes with no single cause identified (e.g., diarrheal disease, pneumonia) 2.1 Human surveillance systems: 2.2 Animal surveillance systems: 1
Passive surveillance: These are surveillance systems designed to passively collect data about trends in disease, and risk factors for disease control and prevention, by using routine methods (e.g., reports of TB from clinics, cattle carcass inspection for disease) 3. List any passive surveillance systems for: 3.1 Human surveillance systems: 3.2 Animal surveillance systems: Active surveillance: These are surveillance systems designed to seek out disease data from selected and targeted groups (e.g., sentinel surveillance for influenza, HIV health surveys) 4. List any active surveillance systems for: 4.1 Human surveillance systems: 4.2 Animal surveillance systems: 2
SECTION 2: COMPONENTS OF UGANDAN SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS Please describe the following components of surveillance systems that you are aware of that have been used in Uganda Targets for Surveillance Programs in Uganda 5. Please identify any diseases and syndromes affecting humans that have been the focus of recent surveillance programs, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply: a) Malaria b) Tuberculosis c) HIV/AIDS d) Pneumonia e) Dysentery/cholera f) Influenza g) Others: please list below: 6. Please identify any diseases and syndromes affecting animals that have been the focus of recent surveillance programs, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply: a) Abortions b) Anthrax c) Brucellosis d) Diarrhea e) Influenza f) Foot & Mouth Dis. g) Others: please list below: Please identify the populations of interest (or targets) of the aforementioned surveillance Programs, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply: 7. Human populations 7.1 By location: a. Urban b. Rural c. Not by location 7.2 By gender: a. Male b. Female c. Not by gender 7.3 By age: a. Adults b. Children c. Not by age 8. Animal populations 8.1 By type: a. Wild b. Domestic c. Not by type 8.2 By gender: a. Male b. Female c. Not by gender 8.3 By age: a. Adults b. Young c. Not by age 8.4 By breeds: a. Yes b. No c. Not by breed 8.5 By usage: a. Milk b. Meat c. Not by usage d. Other usages, please list below: 3
Laboratory Facilities for Surveillance Programs in Uganda Please describe the types and levels of laboratories available for disease surveillance 9. Primary field facilities: These are clinics or laboratories that are capable of sample and data collection, and that can conduct screening tests and some diagnostic tests) Estimate the numbers of: 9.1 Health Care Clinics, by level: a. Health Care I Clinics b. Health Care II Clinics c. Health Care III Clinics d. Health Care IV Clinics 9.2 Veterinary Field Laboratories, by level: a. Sub-county level b. County level c. District level 10. Secondary facilities: These are referral hospitals or laboratories that are capable of accepting referrals from primary facilities, can conduct screening tests and sample and data collection, and are capable of confirmatory diagnostic testing. 10.1 Human referral hospitals/diagnostic laboratories: a. Number of hospitals b. Number of laboratories c. Locations: 10.2 Veterinary diagnostic laboratories a. Number of laboratories b. Locations: 4
Communications Available for Surveillance Programs in Uganda 11. Please describe how information is communicated between different levels of public health and veterinary health, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply: 11.1 Between Primary and Secondary facilities for human 11.2 Between Primary and Secondary facilities for animal 11.3 Between Human and Animal health institutions Method disease information disease information Telephone/cell a. a. a. Email/Website b. b. b. FAX c. c. c. Regular meetings d. d. d. Meetings when needed e. e. e. Other, please describe: f. f. f. 5
Surveillance Data Collection, Storage, and Transmission 12. For any surveillance programs that have been conducted in Uganda, please describe how field data is collected, stored, and transmitted, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply. Method: Humans Animals 12.1 Data Collection in the Field Notes written by hand (hard copy) a) f) Questionnaire (hard copy) b) g) Electronic (computer) c) h) Audio or video recording d) i) Other: e) 12.2 Data Storage in the Field j) Paper/hard copy a) e) Electronic (computer files, flash drive, CD, DVD) b) f) Audio or video recording c) g) Other: d) 12.3 Transferring Data from the Field to Diagnostic Referral Laboratories h) Paper/hard copy a) e) Electronic (computer files, flash drive, CD, DVD) b) f) Audio or video recording c) g) Other: d) h) 6
Laboratory Data Collection and Storage 13. For any surveillance programs that have been conducted in Uganda, please describe how laboratory data is collected and stored, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply. Method: Humans Animals 13.1 Data Collection in the Laboratory Notes written by hand (hard copy) a) e) Electronic (computer input, instrument output files) b) f) Audio or video recording c) g) Other: d) h) 13.2 Data Storage in the Laboratory Paper/hard copy a) e) Electronic (computer files, flash drive, CD, DVD) b) f) Audio or video recording c) g) Other: d) h) 7
Analysis and Reporting of Surveillance Data 14. For any surveillance programs that have been conducted in Uganda, please describe how data are analyzed and reported, by placing a check/mark next to all that apply. 8 Humans Animals 14.1 Describe which agencies or institutions are responsible for processing surveillance data from: Regional diagnostic laboratories: a) c) Field clinics and laboratories: b) d) 14.2 Describe the types of reports produced from surveillance data: Annual summaries of diseases a) d) Disease outbreak reports b) e) Reports from special Programs c) f) 15. Describe how summary data reports are distributed: 15.1 Who are the stakeholders receiving reports? For Human diseases: For Animal diseases: 15.2 What is the frequency of reporting? For Human diseases: For Animal diseases: 15.3 What is the format of these reports? a) b) a) b) Please place a check/mark next to all that apply Humans Animals Printed reports or brochures a) e) Electronic (email, text messaging) b) f) Audio or video recording c) g) Other: d) h) END OF PART 1: CONTINUE TO PART 2: GENDER AUDIT SURVEY