Development and Implementation of Electronic Disease Early Warning Systems for Optimal Disease Surveillance and Response during Humanitarian Crisis and Ebola Outbreak in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan

Authors

  • Kamran Ahmed World Health Organization
  • Muhammad Arish Salam Bukhari World Health Organization
  • Mohammad Altaf Dauod World Health Organization
  • Peter Clement Lugala World Health Organization
  • Ghulam Rabani Popal World Health Organization
  • Alaa Abouzeid World Health Organization
  • Margaret Lamunu World Health Organization

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v11i2.10157

Abstract

Objective: To share lessons learned with experience in concept development of electronic disease early warning system (eDEWS) as a standardized informatic tool for optimal disease surveillance for early warning and response Network (EWARN) during humanitarian crisis.

Methods: We did literature search, review and analysis to document system attributes of existing electronic tools being used for disease surveillance, early warning and health management information system (HMIS). We generated baseline information and conducted multiple planning sessions with stakeholders for EWARN system requirement elicitation and validation to inform concept development of standardized electronic tool.

Results: We identified 98 electronic health projects, classified 22 projects under ‘Disease and epidemic outbreak surveillance’ theme, whereas only four electronic tools met our selection criteria and were reported to be implemented in humanitarian settings complimentary to EWARN. Baseline information was obtained to guide work on requirement gathering and analysis process, and development of concept for a standardized electronic tool for EWARN.

Discussion: The eDEWS was enhanced with an objective to develop standardize electronic tools and data collection procedures to monitor diseases and health events for alert detection in global humanitarian settings. The enhanced system could be harnessed as a powerful tool by outbreak response teams in getting vital epidemiological information for appropriate and timely response during emergencies.

Conclusion: eDEWS experiences in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan offers an opportunity to learn and apply lessons to improve future health informatics initiatives or adapt eDEWS as a feasible standardized approach to enhance EWARN implementation during humanitarian crisis, and potential integration into routine surveillance systems.

Author Biographies

Kamran Ahmed, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Health Emergencies (Headquarters/Geneva, Pakistan, Yemen, Liberia, Somalia, Turkey)

Title: Ex eDEWS Projects Team Lead for Pakistan, Yemen, Liberia, Somalia and EWARS/Headquarters/Geneva.

Muhammad Arish Salam Bukhari, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Health Emergencies, Health Information Management and Risk Assessment, Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), Brazzaville

Title: Technical Officer Information Systems

Ex. eDEWS system software developer

Mohammad Altaf Dauod, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Health Emergencies, WHO Country Office, Afghanistan

Title: Team Leader, WHO Health Emergencies

Peter Clement Lugala, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Country Office, Nigeria

Title: Officer in charge/acting WHO Representative, WHO Country Office, Nigeria

Ghulam Rabani Popal, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Regional Director Office, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), Cairo

Title: Senior Advisor to the Regional Director, WHO/EMRO

Ex. WHO Representative for Somalia, Yemen and Iraq

Alaa Abouzeid, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Health Emergencies, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), Cairo

Title: Emergency Operation Manager/Team Lead Operational Partnerships

Margaret Lamunu, World Health Organization

Department: WHO Health Emergencies, Headquarter, Geneva

Title: Health Emergency Officer

Downloads

Published

2019-09-20

How to Cite

Ahmed, K., Bukhari, M. A. S., Dauod, M. A., Lugala, P. C., Popal, G. R., Abouzeid, A., & Lamunu, M. (2019). Development and Implementation of Electronic Disease Early Warning Systems for Optimal Disease Surveillance and Response during Humanitarian Crisis and Ebola Outbreak in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v11i2.10157

Issue

Section

Original Articles