Surveillance and disease intelligence
Surveillance and Disease Intelligence (SDI) Cluster is mandated to ensuring early detection and reporting of potential health threats, notifiable diseases, public health events and changes in epidemiological trends through the timely collection, analysis, and dissemination of data for action. The aim is to strengthen and equip the national surveillance system to generate timely, high-quality data about all nationally notifiable and priority diseases. The mandate is facilitated through the following functions performed by the cluster which involve to;
- Coordinates and provides oversight to surveillance activities across the country.
- Provide timely evidence-based surveillance data to facilitate informed decision making;
- Strengthen and equip the national surveillance system to generate timely, high quality data on all national notifiable and priority diseases, conditions and events;
- Capture and report through event-based surveillance public health events occurring outside the health facilities
- Coordinate capacity building in surveillance and assess surveillance capacities;
- Create district and provincial surveillance network throughout the country;
- Facilitate cross border surveillance, non-communicable diseases surveillance and surveillance networks; and,
- Engage animal and environmental health representatives in disease surveillance activities
Disease outbreaks threaten life, cause economic disruption, and create a burden on the society. Emerging and re-emerging events with potential to cause disease outbreaks remain a constant threat to national health security. The purpose of strengthening public health surveillance is to provide early warning and rapid response through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) in order to mitigate these threats. The IDSR is a facility based approach that integrates all public health surveillance efforts at the
The IDSR strategy incorporates both Indicator-Based surveillance (IBS) and Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) approaches to early detection of priority diseases, conditions and events.
Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
Mortality Surveillance
To coordinate the development and operationalization of the Zambia National Public Health Institute Mortality Surveillance Program which will provide reliable and timely information on all-cause mortality and inform evidence-based health policy development, implementation, and evaluation in Zambia.
Cross-Border Surveillance
ZNPHI is implementing cross border surveillance. In its quest to strengthen border surveillance within and beyond the region, SDI is working on establishing surveillance mechanisms and actions to enable collaboration and information sharing for prevention, early detection, and response to public health hazards with cross-border transmission potential and build country capacities for resilience in regards with all hazards.
Additionally, SDI has been gathering and analysing information about population mobility to understand population movement and connectivity patterns between communities to inform public health interventions. This also helps to identify additional locations for screening of diseases and guides to focus limited public health resources initiatives to more effectively minimize the risk of disease spread within and across national borders.
Waste Water Surveillance
Environmental surveillance, which involves monitoring wastewater to identify pathogens, has proven to be an invaluable resource in providing supplementary information on the health status of populations, especially in areas with limited robust surveillance or where persistent viral circulation is suspected. It also acts as an early warning system for pathogens and biomarkers that may be emerging or re-emerging in a community, allowing for prompt action to prevent disease spread. Data obtained from wastewater testing enhance public health strategies by offering critical insights into health status of the community. Initiated in 2018 in Zambia, this approach has been pivotal in detecting polio outbreaks.
- Screening of travelers
- Examination and quarantine measures
- Transportation of ill passengers
- Certification of travelers
- Provision of travel advisory notes
Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance
Zambia established a robust framework for vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) surveillance to monitor and mitigate the impact of diseases such as polio, measles, yellow fever, tetanus, and rotavirus. These diseases have been selected for intensive surveillance based on global and regional goals for eradication and elimination. This comprehensive approach ensures the timely detection, investigation, and response to VPD outbreaks, safeguarding public health through effective vaccination programs and disease control measures.
Zambia’s VPD surveillance system is integral to its public health strategy, providing crucial data to inform vaccination campaigns and disease control measures. By maintaining vigilant surveillance for polio, measles, yellow fever, tetanus, and rotavirus, Zambia aligns with global and regional goals for the eradication and elimination of these diseases.
Point of Entry (PoE)
The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), through its Surveillance Disease Intelligence Unit, collaborates with the Ministry of Health to provide port health services. These services are delivered through public health surveillance, in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR), to ensure the free and safe movement of populations, goods, and trade.
The Surveillance Disease Intelligence Unit supports port health services in monitoring diseases or events of public health international concern (PHEIC). This includes:
Additionally, the unit supports preparedness and readiness efforts by:
- Developing all-hazards preparedness plans for Points of Entry (PoE)
- Creating disease-specific emergency plans
These measures enhance Zambia’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for citizens and travelers alike.