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Journal Article > Research

Sparks creating light? Strengthening peripheral disease surveillance in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Benedetti G, Mossoko M, Nyakio Kakusu JP, Nyembo J, Mangion JP, Van Laeken D, Van der Bergh R, van den Boogaard W, Manzi M, Kibango WK, Hermans V, Beijnsberger J, Lambert V, Kitenge E
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Abstract
SETTING
The Democratic Republic of Congo suffers from an amalgam of disease outbreaks and other medical emergencies. An efficient response to these relies strongly on the national surveillance system. The Pool d'Urgence Congo (PUC, Congo Emergency Team) of Médecins Sans Frontières is a project that responds to emergencies in highly remote areas through short-term vertical interventions, during which it uses the opportunity of its presence to reinforce the local surveillance system.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the ancillary strengthening of the peripheral surveillance system during short-term interventions leads to improved disease notification.

DESIGN
A descriptive paired study measuring disease notification before and after 12 PUC interventions in 2013-2014.

RESULTS
A significant increase in disease notification was observed after seven mass-vaccination campaigns and was sustained over 6 months. For the remaining five smaller-scaled interventions, no significant effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS
The observed improvements after even short-term interventions underline, on the one hand, how external emergency actors can positively affect the system through their punctuated actions, and, on the other hand, the dire need for investment in surveillance at peripheral level.
Countries
Democratic Republic of Congo
Subject Area
models of careSORT-ITdisease surveillance
DOI
10.5588/pha.15.0080
Published Date
21-Jun-2016
PubMed ID
27358796
Languages
English
Journal
Public Health Action
Volume / Issue / Pages
Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages 54-59
Issue Date
21-Jun-2016
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