PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTIONS REGARDING DISEASE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM, COMMUNICATED BY HEALTH CARE WORKERS OF DISTRICT SWAT KHYBER PUKHTOONKHWA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52206/jsmc.2016.6.1.748-752Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Disease Early Warning System (DEWS), implemented by the World Health
Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Health, is the
main national surveillance system to detect and respond to infectious disease epidemics in Pakistan. The
DEWS was initially implemented in response to natural disaster and displacement emergencies in
Pakistan, most notably the 2010 floods. However, the system has now expanded to cover about 107
million people of Pakistan's population. Its approaches for outbreak detection include immediate alert
reporting and weekly data collection from about 2800 health facilities.
OBJECTIVE: To find out what problems and suggestions do the trained Health Care Workers
communicate regarding Disease Early Warning System.
MATERIAL & METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on sixty nine Health Care
Workers trained on Disease Early Warning System, from twenty nine randomly selected Basic Health
Units and Civil Dispensaries in District Swat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. A
structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Within each selected Health Care Facility,
we aimed to interview the medical officer or technician in charge who is the designated focal point for
DEWS or surveillance/outbreak control activities. At each Health Care Facility all respondents (if more
than one) were interviewed simultaneously in a focus group discussion.
RESULTS: 47(68.1%) of the respondents communicated no problem, frequently mentioned barriers to
health facility were communication problems 9(13.1%), shortage of mane power 4 (5.8%), Irrelevant
issues 4(5.8%), Plotting watch chart 1(1.4), DEWS & DHIS forms 1( 1.4), English language 1( 1.4%) and
no response 1( 1.4%)
CONCLUSION: Improved means of communication needs to be introduced. Performance based
awards in the form of appreciation certificate may be considered. Refresher and on job trainings are
needed.
KEY WORDS: Surveillance, Health Care Worker, Pakistan.
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