Disease surveillance is a system of constant watchfulness or monitoring of all aspect of the occurrence and the spread of diseases and the use of the information thus gathered for prevention and control. Diseases surveillance is a system of data collection for action. It is a continuous and systematic process.
The standard case definition is used to identify such priority diseases or events and the laboratory is recognized as an important component of public health surveillance.
- Collection of relevant data for a specific population and geographical area. It constitutes the first major step of disease surveillance.
- Collation of the data collected into meaningful arrangement and summary.
- Analysis and interpretation of assembled data.
- Regular dissemination of the interpreted data to appropriate authorities and agencies (at local, state, national and international) as well as the general public.
Diseases notification
Diseases notification is the official reporting of the occurrence of specific diseases to designated health authorities. It is an important aspect of diseases surveillance. Information obtained from diseases is used for many purposes, including:
- Determining the number and relative important of the disease occurring in the population.
- Planning of disease control programmes.
- Evaluation of disease control programme
- Prediction of the like-hood of an epidemic and easily recognition of the actual occurrence of epidemic.
The six known childhood diseases are as followed:
- Tetanus
- Measles
- Poliomyelitis
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping cough (pertusis)
- Diphtheria
Which are preventable by:
- Immunization
- Health education
- High environmental sanitation standard
- Promoting good feeding habit
- Adequate personal and food hygiene
Immediate notification form DSN 001A
Immediate notification form is the immediate notification format for diseases that are of serious implications in the community such as cholera, yellow fever, cerebro spinal meningitis etc. It provide for the name of reporting institution, town, local government and state as well as the name of the diseases in question, signs and symptoms data and place of cases and death, laboratory investigation, the result if available and the measure taken so far for investigation, treatment and control.
Routine monthly diseases notification form DSN 003
This is the monthly disease notification form for the first forty communicable diseases. It contains the name of health institution, local government area, state, month and the year under review.
This form comes in triplicate, the officer in charge fill the three and sends one to state ministry of health and WHO office each and keep in the office.
Laboratory form 001B
Record the data, the laboratory received the specimen and the condition of the specimen. Record the results of the laboratory testing recording to the prompts on the bottom part of the form.
NB: As a national policy, results are given to the state/LGA and the LGA will then inform the health facility.
Weekly reporting of new cases of epidemic prone diseases and other public health emergencies under surveillance form IDSR 002
How health statistics are derived
- Notification of disease: infections, industrial and other notify-able diseases.
- Special programmes: EPI (expanded programme on immunization) control and eradication programme of special disease for example Guinea worn (Dracuntiasis), river blindness (onchocerciasis), as well s school health services.
- Epidemiological survey: information is obtained form the whole community or by sampling e.g. sickness survey, nutrition survey etc.
- Utilization of medical service: important data can be got from the attendance of out patient’s clinic, antenatal clinic, child welfare clinic, family planning and inpatient etc.
