Preliminary Travel Report

1
Preliminary Travel Report

• Nyoman Kandun E A Padmasiri
• WHO - SEARO

2
Purpose of the travel

• To assist MoH on epidemiological issues related
  to post-tsunami health situation

3
Major areas of assistance provided

• Epidemic preparedness and response
• Investigation of an unusual increase of deaths
  among the crows

4
Epidemic preparedness and response

• Assist the disease surveillance system to meet
  unprecedented challenges
• Increase its sensitivity for early detection of
  epidemics
• Advise on readiness and capacity for early
  response

5
Major outbreak prone diseases Diarrhoea
Over reporting?
Tsunami
6
Diarrhoea
7
Viral Fever
Tsunami
8
Viral Fever
9
Acute Respiratory Tract Infections
10
Recommendations

• Existing routine surveillance would reasonably
  meet post-tsunami demands
• Parallel system maintained at Disaster Centre may
  no longer be required
• Speed of data entry to facilitate daily analysis
  at the National Epidemic Control Unit be further
  improved as an immediate step
• Further training be given to staff on analysis of
  collated data and protocol of action on unusual
  increase of cases

11
Recommendations

• Need for an epidemiologist at National Epidemic
  Control Unit at earliest possible and training of
  a local staff as an epidemiologist
• Need for installation of an improved software for
  data entry and analysis at the National Epidemic
  Control Unit
• Need for improving the linking of laboratory
  surveillance data in the analysis.
• Need for improving entomological surveillance

12
Recommendations

• The general preventive actions such as provision
  of safe water and sanitation should be continued.
  This should also be monitored by MoH and priority
  areas for urgent intensified activities should be
  identified based on prevalence of water and food
  borne diseases.
• As a result of breakdown of sanitation,
  transmission of soil-transmitted helminthiasis
  too will increase. It is suggested to de-worm
  entire population (except infants) twice per year
  in the affected islands during next 1-3 years