The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), with support from WHO, conducted the periodic integrated sentinel surveillance review meeting at the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control on 17 March 2012. Participants at the meeting included health personnel responsible for sentinel sites surveillance for Paediatric Bacterial Meningitis (PBM), Rotavirus and Influenza, officers from the Western Area District Health Team (DHMT) and the National Surveillance Programme (NSP), staff from the Central Public Health Referral Laboratory (CPHRL) and WHO Surveillance Officers. The objective of the meeting was to assess performance of the sentinel sites and laboratory with the aim of improving implementation.

Coordinators of the sentinel sites and officers from the CPHRL, DHMT and NSP presented progress reports including main achievements, challenges and way forward. Participants made recommendation following intense discussions on various issues.

It is to be recalled that MoHS introduced PBM and Influenza sentinel surveillance successfully in 2011 with support from WHO & partners. The Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (ISS) was introduced as part of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) with support of WHO (WCO, GIP/HQ, AFRO) through technical assistance from Agence de Medecine Preventive. The aim of ISS was to Monitoring of influenza-like-illness and severe acute respiratory illnesses. Outcome of the review meeting is expected to guide MoHS and partners to strengthen the programme for an effective and sustained outcome.

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