East African Public Health Laboratories Networking Project (EAPHLNP)

Minutes of the EPHLNP Surveillance Technical Working Group Video Conference

Held On 14th May 2018

Time: 14.30 hrs - 17.00 hrs East African Time

Attendance:
Uganda Kenya Tanzania Burundi ECSA
Dr E. Mabumba Dr Makayotto Dr Ally Nyanga Mr. Nyandwi Stanislaus Dr. Willy Were
Dr J Senzoga Ms. BARANSATA Béatrice
Mr Atek Kagirita Dr Saumu Nungu
Mr Thomas Alinaitwe
Mrs. Yustina Muhaji

Mrs. Senga
Sembuche

Rwanda sent apologies for not attending

Agenda adopted after item on “Event-Based Surveillance” was added.

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Agenda Issue Discussion Recommendations Time line
Briefs of country status All country teams indicated they had received information of Maintain high alert and
of preparedness for the DRC EVD outbreak and had stepped up alert levels. preparedness activities to
EVD outbreak  Initiated screening at international airports include:
 Enhanced PoE vigilance  Training
 Ebola Preparedness Contingency plans activated  Community
 All health facilities alerted mobilization
 Tanzania had held a table top simulation to test the  Prepositioning
EVD preparedness plan essential supplies
 Universal IPC

Briefs of country status Kenya: during routine surveillance, circulating vaccine-derived 1. All countries to
of preparedness for polio virus type2 was isolated in sewage samples from enhance polio
polio outbreaks Kamukunji sub-county in Nairobi. Genetic sequencing tests by surveillance and
KEMRI indicated it was a strain from Somalia. Interventions be on alert for
include possible outbreak
 Field investigations underway 2. ECSA-HC to share
 Active AFP surveillance initiated any new
 9 sentinel sites activated developments on
 Community surveys and risk analysis: 12 High-risk the DRC polio
counties identified situation with the
 Monovalent type 2 vaccine started for routine countries
immunization 3. The Cross-Border
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Agenda Issue Discussion Recommendations Time line
 Mass vaccination started in Nairobi for all <5s Committee of the
 Working with WHO and other partners to improve Karamoja-Turkana
cross-border surveillance along the border with Zone to hold a
Somalia and Ethiopia cross-border
Tanzania: Increased alert in the districts bordering DRC in the meeting
south west.
Uganda: Routine AFP surveillance and polio vaccination
continuing.
Matters arising: there is anthrax and cholera outbreak in the
Karamoja-Turkana transboundary areas.

Joint External All countries have had their JEE done. 1. The strategy of
Evaluation Tanzania: did in 2016. As a result, the PH EmEOC has been cross-border
established and SOPs developed. The TTX last week was to surveillance in
test the SOPs. EAC was
One Health strategic plan to be piloted in some regions soon appreciated.
One Health curriculum being developed together with animal This should be
sector. strengthened.
Uganda: NAP done and Health Security agenda being
implemented.
PoE is the weakest point. Programs are underway to improve.
Kenya: Developing NAP
Working with WHO and other partners to deal with identified
gaps.
Operationalizing cross- .The need for the committees is appreciated. MoH Coordinators: Within one month
border committees .Funding is available in the MoH to support their function Burundi: TBD
.Allowances for their meetings should be at national rates for Kenya: Dr Makayotto
each county since they are at the border Tanzania: Dr Vida
. When teams in the zone realize the need for a meeting, they Uganda: Mr Atek
inform their respective MoH Immidiately
.MoH coordinators agree and start mobilizing funds. When 1. Turkana-Karamoja
funds are available, they communicate to the zonal teams to 2. Kagera-Mbarara
hold the meetings .In next financial year,
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Agenda Issue Discussion Recommendations Time line
. ECSA-HC should be involved in monitoring the set agenda budget for establishing
. Cross-border Zone/committee was established between cross-border surveillance
Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda committees with DRC,
Somalia, Malawi,
Mozambique, Zambia

Sharing Data . Kenya and Uganda are sharing weekly surveillance reports. .Tanzania will share their
. Connectivity with the web-based system is not established monthly bulletin
for Kenya and Uganda . A letter requesting
.Uganda needs to have a letter from ECSA-HC requesting the sharing data should be
MoH to share data with EAC and ECSA-HC sent all MoH to facilitate
the process
. Dr Makayotto will follow
up with the ICT in Kenya
and advise in two weeks
Event-Based .The need for EBS is ever increasing. . Countries to strengthen
Surveillance .ACDC intends to have the strategy as a structured program in their EBS capacities
all countries . Support from ACDC is
. The Regional Coordinating Centers should be able to provide awaited
examples in their respective regions. In eastern Africa, Kenya .Literature on EBS is
is the RCC welcome
Kenya has established an EOC with active watch teams
scanning all sources of data
. EBS at community level to be piloted in two counties before
rolling out
Tanzania: Tools for community-based surveillance are due for
piloting in Kilimanjaro and Bagamoyo regions.
Uganda: Condiucting community-based surveillance as IDSR
and IHR guidelines provide

There being no other business, the video conference was adjourned at 1655 hrs EAT.

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Chairperson___________________________________________ Secretary________________________ Date______________________