A two-day state level review meeting on Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) under Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) activities held on May 2-3 at Hotel Saramati Dimapur, highlighted the importance of enhanced disease surveillance activities and quality reporting for better preparation against public health emergencies.
A press release by the office of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dimapur informed that delivering the keynote address, State Nodal Officer (SNO) IDSP Nagaland, Dr. Nyan Kikon, presented the district-wise IDSP status updates.
He advised the surveillance units to flag consistent nil reporting health units. Dr. Kikon underscored the importance of quality reporting and reminded the District IDSP units that quality of report accounts for 30% while monthly scoring was calculated.
Dr. Kikon asked the district units to remind their respective health reporting units about geo-tagging and to ensure that reports were uploaded from the health unit’s location. He also emphasised the importance of data sharing with other vertical programs while reminding them of the necessity of regular data analysis.
He also suggested more training for health workers on case definition and objectives of IDSP in the districts, pointing out that IDSP and IHIP were focused on case definition. He said case definition, data analysis and data sharing with other vertical programs provides added value to IDSP and IHIP.
Dr. Kikon informed that a district surveillance committee headed by the district commissioner had been constituted in 12 districts and asked the committee to promptly conduct their quarterly meeting.
Speaking on snake envenoming, he said snake envenoming was one of the neglected topical diseases and, as such, the state health society had taken the initiative to include it as one of the health programs in the state. Under the snake envenoming program, Dr. Kikon said health workers would be trained to identify different categories of snake bites, how to handle anti-venom serum, treatment and prevention of snakebites, and the responsibilities of district nodal officers.
While exhorting the members, CMO Dimapur Dr. Limatula Aier, stressed the importance of quality data, data analysis and data sharing with other vertical programmes.
During the programme, the top five best performing districts, Kiphire, Noklak, Mon, Kohima and Wokha, were awarded with citations in recognition of their reporting status.
The programme was chaired by state epidemiologist, Dr. Limasenla Lemtur, a welcome address was delivered by district surveillance officer, Dimapur, Dr. Kavito Zhimomi, and a status update on IHIP reporting was presented by state programme officer, NISHTHA-Jhpiego, Roselyn Lasuh. The two-day meeting was attended by 12 district surveillance units led by district surveillance officers, epidemiologists, data managers, data entry operators and microbiologists.