文章基本信息

标题：Strengthening systems for communicable disease surveillance: creating a laboratory network in Rwanda
本地全文：下载
作者：Senait Kebede ; John B Gatabazi ; Pierre Rugimbanya 等
期刊名称：Health Research Policy and Systems
印刷版ISSN：1478-4505
电子版ISSN：1478-4505
出版年度：2011
卷号：9
期号：1
页码：27
DOI：10.1186/1478-4505-9-27
语种：English
出版社：BioMed Central
摘要：The recent emergence of a novel strain of influenza virus with pandemic potential underscores the need for quality surveillance and laboratory services to contribute to the timely detection and confirmation of public health threats. To provide a framework for strengthening disease surveillance and response capacities in African countries, the World Health Organization Regional Headquarters for Africa (AFRO) developed Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) aimed at improving national surveillance and laboratory systems. IDSR emphasizes the linkage of information provided by public health laboratories to the selection of relevant, appropriate and effective public health responses to disease outbreaks. We reviewed the development of Rwanda's National Reference Laboratory (NRL) to understand essential structures involved in creating a national public health laboratory network. We reviewed documents describing the NRL's organization and record of test results, conducted site visits, and interviewed health staff in the Ministry of Health and in partner agencies. Findings were developed by organizing thematic categories and grouping examples within them. We purposefully sought to identify success factors as well as challenges inherent in developing a national public health laboratory system. Among the identified success factors were: a structured governing framework for public health surveillance; political commitment to promote leadership for stronger laboratory capacities in Rwanda; defined roles and responsibilities for each level; coordinated approaches between technical and funding partners; collaboration with external laboratories; and use of performance results in advocacy with national stakeholders. Major challenges involved general infrastructure, human resources, and budgetary constraints. Rwanda's experience with collaborative partnerships contributed to creation of a functional public health laboratory network.
关键词：Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; Malaria ; Public Health Laboratory ; National Reference Laboratory ; Laboratory Network