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Country Progress Report for 2008-2009. Country Coordinator Presentation. Thailand. Kunming, China August 11, 2009. How many epidemiologists are needed to conduct surveillance, investigate outbreaks and implement control measures. Background.
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Country Progress Report for 2008-2009 Country Coordinator Presentation Thailand Kunming, China August 11, 2009
How many epidemiologists are needed to conduct surveillance, investigate outbreaks and implement control measures
Background Identified research gap during the last regional forum “how many epidemiologists are needed to conduct surveillance, investigate outbreaks and implement control measures”. • Vital in planning for capacity building
Objective: To determine the number of trained epidemiologist that are needed to have a functional surveillance system and effective response mechanism
Methodology Descriptive study Surveillance and Response capacity of two countries – well established FETP (Thailand and Philippines Two other countries- Not established FETP Yet Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to assess the status of core epidemiologic capacity at the national level and local level
Methodology I. Quantitative: • Individual self administered questionnaires were filled by FETP graduates in the Philippines and Thailand. • Interview of key respondents as well as review the relevant literature to understand the existing surveillance system in the country
Methodology II. Qualitative: A focus group discussion (FGD) was held in Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This was to ascertain if there is a rapid response plan at the country/province/district/municipal level and if this plan is followed during disasters or outbreaks.
Epidemiologist • defined as “an investigator who studies the occurrence of disease or other health related conditions or events in defined populations. The control of disease in populations is often also considered to be a task for the epidemiologist. • Trained epidemiologist as a professional who finished a full course of field epidemiology or its equivalent
Expected output • Base line data on country specific data on human resources for epidemiology capacity and training need assessment. • Standard indicators for human resources for epidemiology for MBDS countries could be estimated from the “standard” gotten from quantitative and qualitative methods
Findings • The surveillance and response unit (SRU) was set up in every region in the Philippines, and for every province in Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia. • both countries have had >20 years - churning out FETP graduates, - were not able to provide all of their surveillance unit with an trained epidemiologist
Findings SRU teams in Vietnam and Cambodia did not have FETP graduates but the teams seemed to have been able to manage public health emergencies so far
The SRU model in the Philippines • Having a regional surveillance unit managed by 3 people – enough to respond and control epidemics because the main core of the team was the local health personnel themselves
Key The surveillance system well-established and functioning well at the sentinel sites so that the system can be detect abnormal increases in disease patterns and raise the alarm when needed
The local health units • considered as part and parcel of the SRU team • They can only do surveillance and response this effectively – If they have basic epidemiology background (Philippines and Thailand.)
CONCLUSION For every regional surveillance and response unit, one well-trained epidemiologist can effectively manage the surveillance and response unit with the following caveats: • The surveillance system is clear and well-understood and implemented by every reporting unit or sentinel site • The local health units have basic epidemiology training and continuous upgrading of their knowledge and skill. It is important that they know they are part of the team. • The epidemiologist should have other competencies developed in them also: management, communication, and leadership abilities.
Recommendation • Development of policies and strategies • Development of surveillance system • Personnel development • Promote personnel and information networks in-country and abroad
Recommendation 1. Intensify the capacity building for SRRT. (new training course to cover all district teams as well as refresher courses) 2. Career development opportunity for SRRT member/ leader e.g to be selected as 2 year - FETP candidate and assigned them at their province as Inter FETP trainee.
