5.3.2.1. Epidemiology Unit (EpiU)

EpiU staff are under the CMO supervision and coordinate closely with MOH Departments, Units, Programs, National Labs, and Hospitals, to develop the surveillance system . They have two different general responsibilities: Administrative and Technical.

Epidemiologists:

• Supervising the reception, processing, and integration of data on notifiable communicable diseases from Hospitals, Polyclinics and Health Centers Facilities, Laboratories; and other areas periodically (6.3.3.1).
• Supervising the reception, processing, and integration of data on other communicable diseases of interest from Hospitals, Polyclinics and Health Centers Facilities, Laboratories; and other areas periodically (6.3.3.1).
• Supervising the reception, processing, and integration of data on non-communicable diseases from Hospitals, Polyclinics and Health Centers Facilities, Laboratories; and other areas periodically (6.3.3.1).
• Supervising the reception, processing, and integration of data on injuries including traffic accidents, gender-based violence and others from Hospitals, Polyclinics, Health Centers, Laboratories; and other ministries periodically (6.3.3.1).
• Supervise Sentinel Site Surveillance and its implementation (SARI/Syndromic).
• Coordinate with the Environmental Health Unit to receive sample results on a weekly basis for water and food.
• Review and analysis of data, organization of investigation of cases, identification of clusters, outbreak (6.1).
• Guiding the development of the early warning system, reviewing its outputs, and deciding the response
• Receiving and advising on investigation feedback information and completing further analysis as needed.
• Monitoring trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to notifiable communicable diseases.
• Monitoring trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to other communicable diseases of interest.
• Monitoring trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to non-communicable diseases.
• Monitoring trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to injuries including traffic accidents, gender-based violence and others.
• Supervising production and dissemination of the weekly surveillance bulletin, other periodic reports on public health surveillance.
• Characterizing the current situation, declaring the outbreak, informing the relevant MoH area, assisting in formulation of a public health response, monitoring the impact of the interventions, and declaring the of end of the outbreak.
• Participating and contributing to Health Situation Analysis and Health System Annual Report with surveillance and response data and information.
• Reporting situations of international concern through an international health regulation channel - PAHO/WHO.
• Based on current health priorities and trends, to plan, integrate, and implement national surveillance systems and subsystems.
• Developing / updating surveillance manuals, guidelines, and standards operating procedures.
• Monitoring event-based surveillance
• Responsible to routinely reach out to other ministries – Ministry of Agriculture and veterinarians (monitor certain zoonotic diseases of concern to human health)
• Provision of inputs in the definition and organization of information platforms for surveillance and necessary organization levels, indicators, tools, forms, and analytical outputs.
• Leading the surveillance pillar in the health emergency operation center in response to health emergencies and disasters.
• Supervise the surveillance of pharmacovigilance, perinatal mortality, and other specialized surveillance such as injury-based surveillance (gender-based violence; traffic accidents).

Surveillance Officers

• Collect and review/verify surveillance data obtained from personnel within and external to the EpiU.
• Collaborate with the epidemiologist(s) and other team members to conduct data analysis including real-time analysis of outbreak data, to perform epidemic forecasting and detection.
• Effectively facilitate the coordination of response activities for epidemic-prone diseases.
• Assess and evaluate the implementation of surveillance activities by conducting regular field supervision visits, this will help identify gaps so that recommendations can be made, and corrective actions can be taken based on key performance indicators.
• Collaborate with the epidemiologists, research officers and other MOH departments to co- develop surveillance guidelines, manuals, and tools to improve disease surveillance at community, local, and national levels.
• Manage and coordinate surveillance technical activities and outbreak / health emergency programs.
• Assist / facilitate the implementation of the International Health Regulations which includes participating in verifying and assessing the risk on reported public health events.
• Facilitate training on surveillance of epidemic prone diseases on topics of detection and notification, investigation, data management / analysis, and rapid response to build capacity and strengthen surveillance systems.
   

Research Officers

• Collaborating with epidemiologist(s) and research officers to collate and verify data to be analysed.
• Ensuring that accurate data is available for analysis by monitoring the cleaning and coding of database.
• Supporting EpiU team members by facilitating database sharing from field sites to data management team (epidemiologists).
• To assist in the analysis of data, undertaking advanced analysis in busy periods.
• Specifically, for the analysis of NCDs, being involved in trying to find associations between risk factors and incidence, and risk factors and prevalence.
• Actively participating in epidemiological research or studies including those on disease trends on a community, local, national, regional, and international level.
• Developing research protocols on areas of implementation.
• Provision of support in the development of standard operating procedures for surveillance activities.
• Contribute to the planning and development of presentations and material for workshops, and trainings to build capacity and improve surveillance efforts.
• Development and monitoring of platforms utilised for data collection, data aggregation , data analysis, data dissemination and collaboration.
• Assist in the development of reports for sharing results.
• Assist on the dissemination of scientific and evidence-based technical information and knowledge.

Biostatistician:

• Collecting and collation of surveillance and statistical data given by team members, and other units internal and external to the MOH.
• Processing and verification of data received.
• Leading data analysis (morbidity, mortality, and risk factors).
• Development of predictions or projections from data to assist with surveillance and other health related planning.
• Assessing trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to notifiable communicable diseases.
• Assessing trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to non-notifiable communicable diseases.
• Assessing trends in morbidity, mortality and risk factors related to notifiable communicable diseases.
• Aid in the periodical and general surveillance reports.
• To aid with the Sentinel sites monthly reporting (this relates to integrated data processed by members of the HMIU).
• Collaborating with other team members to send feedback to local and national levels (CMO, HMIU, MOH Units, program or project leads and others).
• Collecting and collation of surveillance and statistical data given by team members, and other units internal and external to the MOH.

Data Entry Clerks:

• Accurately input surveillance data into the computer system in a timely manner using various software applications utilised within the EpiU.
• Verify the accuracy of the data entered by having SOPs for checks and making any necessary corrections.
• Aid in the basic analysis of data to identify any patterns or trends.
• Ensure that all records are maintained, and data is properly organized and stored.
• Consistently communicate with other members of the EpiU to ensure that the data is entered correctly.
• Ensure all new data entry clerks are trained in – inputting data, ensuring data quality, basic analysis, maintaining records, and storing / organizing data.