12. Surveillance and Notification of Diseases

SURVEILLANCE:

• The continuous inspection of all aspects of Occurrence and spread of disease.
• The ongoing, systematic collection and analysis of data about an infectious disease that can lead to action being taken to control or prevent the disease.
• It is an integral part of any disease’s control strategy.

Components of Surveillance:

• Collection of Data

In this component CHN collects the raw data from individuals, families, community by using some special designed tool. E.g. Checklists, Structured, Semi Structured or un-Structured Questioners, windshield survey etc, for achieving the facts and figures of diseases.

• Tabulation of Data

After collection of raw figures and facts of diseases, CHN arranges & puts all the problems in table, category wise. This category may be made according their common cause etc.

• Analysis of Data

After tabulation, CHN will be able to interpret & conclude the causes of disease etc.

• Distribution of information

After knowing the causes of disease CHN, makes plans for prevention, control & minor treatment of those diseases or she/he distributes information to higher authorities and to all community members by pamphlets, posters etc for prompt prevention and deletion the cause of disease.

Procedure Surveillance:

• Consider the routinely reporting of collected mortality and morbidity data from medical institutions.
• Notify for the infectious diseases in general household, in the community through pamphlet, leaflet, education, radio, T.V, & newspaper.
• Active surveillance by door-to-door search plays an important role when an outbreak occurs.
• Setting up sentinel centers in high-risk areas and should do sentinel surveillance. These centers may serve as early warning system for detection of virus/bacteria among animals and detection of vector and infections in man.