Epidemiology Unit Strategic Plan 2009 - 2011

 

The use of Geographic Information Systems in disease surveillance and population health monitoring strengthened through increased availability of spatially oriented data

We plan to:

• Map households by locality and collect data on household characteristics in two  health regions
• Integrate GPS data into the Belize Health Information System
• Map village boundaries utilizing Google Earth

Implementation of the Provider Initiated Vital Registration System ensured to improve the timeliness and completeness of birth and death registration

We plan to:

1       

2       

• Conduct continuing education in the Provider Initiated Vital Registration System of Belize
• Conduct routine monitoring of the Provider Initiated Vital Registration System

 

Surveillance of non-communicable diseases (NCD), accidents and injuries strengthened to improve reporting of NCD indicators

We plan to:

• Review and revise Cancer Registry Guidelines
• Implement Cancer Registry Guidelines nationally
• Adopt and implement CAREC non-communicable disease data set and report on the indicators
• Conduct continuing education in the surveillance of non-communicable diseases, accidents and injuries

Mortality surveillance strengthened to ensure accuracy in mortality statistics of the country

We plan to:

• Implement MMDS Software in all District Health Information Units country-wide
• Conduct Continuing Education in the Mortality Surveillance System of Belize

Communicable Disease Surveillance, Early Detection and Rapid Response capacity strengthened to adequately respond to communicable diseases such as Pandemic Influenza and other public health emergencies

We plan to:

3       

• Implement the integrated Food Borne Disease Surveillance strategy
• Implement the Influenza Sentinel Unit Surveillance strategy
• Develop health services response plans for an influenza pandemic or other public health emergency
• Implement endemic channels in all District Information Units and the National Epidemiology Unit
• Develop and implement a community based Early Warning System
• Train, establish and support national and regional rapid response teams
• Establish National & Regional Communicable Disease Surveillance Teams
• Conduct Continuing Education in the Communicable Disease Surveillance System of Belize.
• Review national communicable disease surveillance and response guidelines and update where necessary (e.g. classification manual, outbreak investigation protocol, list of notifiable diseases, food borne disease manual, and communicable disease manual)

 

Laboratory Based Surveillance strengthened in support of Communicable Disease Surveillance

We plan to:

4       

• Conduct routine identification and isolation of Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Norovirus, & pathogenic E.Coli, S.aureus infection by the CML
• Conduct routine identification of Influenza virus, Respiratory Syncitial Virus, Parainfluenza virus &, Adenovirus infection using immunoflourescence by CML
  

Compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005) core capacity requirements ensured

We plan to:

5       

• Complete the IHR (2005) Self Assessment of Core Capacities
• Complete the IHR (2005) Core Capacity Requirements Five Year Strategic Plan
• Begin to implement the IHR (2005) Core Capacity Requirements Five Year Implementation Plan

The national multi-sectoral health information system strengthened utilizing the Health Metrics Network national assessment results for formulation and implementation of a national 5 year strategic plan

We plan to:

• Complete the Health Information Systems Strengthening Five Year Strategic Plan
• Begin to implement the Health Information Systems Strengthening Five Year Strategic Plan
• Hold bi-monthly National Health Information Systems Committee meetings
• Hold monthly Ministry of Health – Health Metrics Network In-house Committee meetings

Routine assessment and auditing of surveillance processes and data quality strengthened to inform the development of strategies to address identified limitations 

We plan to:

 

• Develop a Surveillance Auditing and Monitoring and Evaluation plan with indicators and methodology
• Implement the Surveillance Auditing and Monitoring and Evaluation plan at District Health Information Units country-wide and National Epidemiology Unit

Dissemination and use of surveillance data and health statistics in decision making, policy development, and setting research priorities strengthened   

We plan to:

• Identify and introduce innovative data analysis methods (e.g. forecasting, complex analysis, modeling) and software (e.g. SPSS)
• Produce and disseminate Annual Health Statistics of Belize, Annual Health Indicators Brochure, Epidemiologic Bulletins
• Epidemiological Profiles and other Special Reports