This abstract has been accepted at the 2024 DHIS2 Annual Conference
Leveraging DHIS2 in the livestock sector for One Health Advancement
Zoonotic diseases, those transmissible between animals and humans present a notable public health threat. The lack of effective coordination, compounded by different sectors working independently, hinders improved surveillance, prevention, and control of these diseases. As the global community faces increasing threats from emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, the importance of establishing a robust and interconnected surveillance system has become paramount. This abstract aims to demonstrate the efforts for facilitating data sharing between animal and human health. Despite the presence of several systems in the livestock sector, surveillance data manual collection and reporting persist due to reasons outlined by the users during the Joint zoonotic surveillance system readiness assessment. Recognizing the essential role of functional surveillance systems in both animal and human health sectors, it was deemed necessary to establish a robust system in the animal health sector before embarking on the development of the One Health Module. An extension of DHIS2 for use in the livestock sector was supported by a system alternative analysis report which documented the strengths and areas for improvement of the existing systems ensuring the creation of a comprehensive surveillance system. To ensure stakeholders engagement, requirements for the animal health surveillance system were gathered from the Zanzibar livestock sector with significant adoptions from the EMA-i. Additionally, modules from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) system were adopted and integrated into the enhanced DHIS2-based surveillance system to minimize the presence of parallel systems. The adoption of DHIS2 in the livestock sector, which is celebrated for its open-source nature and cost-effectiveness, signifies a strategic move towards real-time, accurate, and comprehensive data reporting being a significant step towards the establishment of a joint zoonotic diseases surveillance system. By weaving together the threads of open-source technology, livestock sector engagement, and the overarching goal of a One Health approach, the One Health project has unified collaborative efforts of diverse stakeholders that position the joint zoonotic surveillance system as a transformative milestone in global health security. Additionally, the project has extended DHIS2 for use within the livestock sector aiming at enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of data reporting for a more effective joint zoonotic surveillance system. As the project progresses, it is anticipated to disseminate valuable insights and lessons learned, fostering data sharing, triangulation, and collaboration for those invested in advancing One Health initiatives worldwide.
Primary Author: Sarah Kapanda
Keywords:
One Health, DHIS2, Livestock sector, emerging/re-emerging diseases
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