Strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response (proposed project)
As the government's mandated national institute for disease surveillance and outbreak response, IEDCR is committed to developing a modern and effective disease surveillance system. Despite much progress in recent years, including US CDC support for an internet-based reporting system for influenza, some gaps remain. IECDR is now seeking assistance from IANPHI to build on recent investments in surveillance to transform disease intelligence and response and improve health outcomes in Bangladesh.A proposed project seeks strategic investments to strengthen surveillance for communicable conditions by further developing the CDC-funded web-based reporting system beyond the curent district- to national-level platform. These enhancements will improve the timeliness and completeness of disease reporting and analysis by expanding the system to the sub-district level. The effort will also provide a platform for a long-planned integrated approach to surveillance -- one that can be adapted nationwide for additional conditions and by additional users. Once the system is functional, it will be incorporated into the national surveillance system of the government of Bangladesh and maintained by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Enhancements to the national disease surveillance system will result in substantial integration and coordination of the various surveillance systems operating in Bangladesh, with benefits to other ministry offices and development partners. Additional proposed activities will fill critical needs for outbreak response, facilitate development of surveillance in new areas such as NCDs and injuries, and develop the basis for an integrated national public health laboratory system to support surveillance and other public health activities.
Discussions of this potential project are ongoing.
Notes from the Field
Professor Mahmud Rahman (pictured at right), director of IEDCR, has worked closely with IANPHI project manager Allison Greenspan and policy advisor Dr. Sue Binder in developing a long-term project for IANPHI funding. During a site visit to Bangladesh in January 2010, IANPHI-Emory collaborated with Prof. Rahman and the IEDCR team to define the steps to take toward more effective evidence-informed public health decision-making and action. 