Event-based surveillance (EBS)

EBS in Zambia is a critical component of the country’s public health surveillance system. EBS involves the detection and reporting of unusual or unexpected health events, such as disease outbreaks, clusters of cases, or unusual clinical presentations.

In Zambia, EBS is coordinated by the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) in collaboration with other stakeholders, including:

1. Ministry of Health (MoH)
2. District Health Offices (DHOs)
3. Provincial Health Offices (PHOs)
4. Health facilities
5. Communities

Key components of EBS in Zambia include:

1. Event detection: Identification of unusual health events through various sources, such as healthcare workers, laboratories, and community reports.
2. Event reporting: Reporting of detected events to the ZNPHI and other relevant authorities.
3. Event investigation: Investigation of reported events to determine the cause, scope, and impact.
4. Event response: Implementation of control measures to mitigate the impact of the event.
5. Event notification: Notification of relevant stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), if necessary.

EBS in Zambia focuses on detecting and responding to priority diseases, including:

1. Infectious diseases (e.g., cholera, measles, COVID-19)
2. Zoonotic diseases (e.g., rabies, anthrax)
3. Food and waterborne diseases (e.g., typhoid, dysentery)
4. Chemical and environmental hazards (e.g., chemical spills, water contamination)

The goals of EBS in Zambia are to:

1. Detect and respond to public health threats in a timely manner
2. Reduce the impact of outbreaks and other health events
3. Improve disease control and prevention measures
4. Enhance collaboration and coordination among stakeholders

Overall, EBS plays a vital role in protecting the health and well-being of Zambians by enabling early detection and response to public health threats.