Afrigather The Covid-19 pandemic has left main influence globally. Mauritius has been very environment friendly in responding to the pandemic by way of numerous measures established through the disaster. Though the response has been swift, the toll on the well being of inhabitants in addition to the socio-economic implications can’t be undermined. Among the many key classes discovered, the necessity for strengthened preparedness and real-time early warning techniques are of excessive precedence. Mauritius thus endeavors to persistently strengthen its public well being emergency preparedness and early warning system by way of the upscaling of its Built-in Illness Surveillance and Response (IDSR) System.
The Ministry of Well being and Wellness (MOHW) with the assist of World Well being Group has due to this fact made main progress in IDSR this yr by way of 1. the difference of the third version of the WHO technical pointers for IDSR to fulfill Mauritius context, 2. the capability constructing of healthcare employees by way of training of 46 trainers and 151 regional Well being Care Employees on IDSR, 3. the initiation of a nationwide cascade coaching of IDSR aiming to coach 7000 well being professionals in 181 well being services within the Republic of Mauritius by December 2024, and 4. the revision of the record of precedence ailments that will likely be a part of the real-time surveillance and early warning system.
The outcomes are encouraging with three out of 5 areas reporting on IDSR, and 102 taking part in IDSR reporting in comparison with 45 services in September 2023. Mauritius has additionally been reporting to the World Well being Group Regional Workplace for Africa (AFRO) with 100% timeliness in comparison with early 2023 the place no stories had been shared. The MOHW is working to make sure that 100% completeness is achieved by 2024.
Dr the Hon. Kailesh Kumar Jagutpal, Minister of Well being and Wellness, conveyed his imaginative and prescient as follows:
“The COVID-19 pandemic is without doubt one of the twenty first century examples that emphasize on the essential significance of illness surveillance. A sturdy surveillance system permits the detection of early alerts and warnings about ailments, situations and occasions of public well being significance.
One of many strategic aims of the Nationwide Well being Sector Strategic Plan of the Ministry is to construct a sturdy and efficient surveillance system by extending using digital actual time reporting system for information assortment, transmission, evaluation and information-sharing. The roll out of the third Version of IDSR is a part of the Nationwide Motion Plan for Well being Safety.”
Mauritius has a longtime job pressure which drives the upscaling of IDSR. The upcoming actions embrace:
- Validating the revised record of the precedence ailments for actual time IDSR reporting;
- Speed up cascade coaching with the coaching of greater than 7000 healthcare employees by finish of 2024;
- Prolong IDSR in Rodrigues outer island;
- Regularly transit to actual time reporting as per the final Joint Exterior Analysis report;
- Disseminate accepted technical pointers; and
- Develop a person pleasant IDSR handbook for Mauritius.
Such sturdy political will of the Mauritius authorities to prioritize public well being emergency preparedness, and the dedication and relentless work of a really decided and enthusiastic workforce on the Ministry of Well being and Wellness may be very a lot welcomed by the WHO nation workplace and the specialists who’re accompanying the MOHW workforce of their journey to strengthen early detection, reporting and response to well being emergencies.
Dr Anne Ancia, WHO Consultant in Mauritius stated : “Mauritius has appropriately prioritized the strengthening of its Built-in Illness Surveillance and Response as a vital ingredient of public well being emergencies preparedness and swift response not just for the well being safety of the Mauritian individuals but in addition for the remainder of world by common reporting of precedence illness of issues as per the Worldwide Well being Laws (2005)”.
WHO will accompany the Ministry of Well being and wellness in its formidable and laudable goal of getting all well being services skilled and reporting to IDSR by finish of December 2024.
