Evaluating the VHF surveillance system in Nigeria The implementation of the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) framework has been fraught with recurring constraints culminating in a weakened health system with sub-optimal emergency response plan when the action threshold for these diseases are reached. AIDRAN project aims to evaluate the performance of the VHF surveillance system (focus on Lassa and Yellow fever) within the IDSR framework to identify pertinent gaps in the system and provide practical applications to improve surveillance practice in the country. The VHF surveillance system evaluation study is a component of the AIDRAN project, the general objective of which is to conduct high quality public health research with focus on epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory-based projects, surveillance, and research of infectious diseases and other important diseases as well as other public health threats of local importance in Nigeria. The VHF Surveillance system evaluation is a process and outcome evaluation with a mixed methods study design. The evaluation will adopt a two-stage process which includes a preliminary review of existing Lassa and Yellow fever epidemiological and laboratory data followed by a field evaluation. Multi-stage sampling will be used to select twelve health facilities in two urban Local Government Areas (LGAs) and six health facilities in two rural LGAs stratified across the three tiers of health system and by public-private ownership. Quantitative data will be collected using structured electronic tools and analyzed using STATA 15. A key informant interview will be conducted in each of the four LGAs. Qualitative data will be analyzed using MAXQDA 2018. The measurement outcomes of this study will be credible evidence gathered on the performance of the VHF surveillance system based on assessment of defined system attributes. Applicable recommendations to strengthen the system attributes will be proposed.
Advancing Infectious Disease Research Across Nigeria (AIDRAN) PROJECT SUMMARY Evaluating the VHF Surveillance System in Nigeria The VHF surveillance system evaluation study as a component of the AIDRAN project proposes to evaluate the performance of the VHF surveillance system (focus on Lassa and Yellow fever) within the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) framework to identify pertinent gaps in the system and provide practical applications to improve surveillance practice in the country. The evaluation study will be a collaboration led by NCDC which includes Georgetown University and AFENET to be implemented by an assembled multi-disciplinary team with proven records of research success and experience with disease surveillance program implementation; community-based participatory research, sustainability evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis. It is anticipated that the utility of data from this evaluation would inform decisions to strengthen the (IDSR) framework nationally. This is critical in promoting the best use of data collection resources to support the achievement of VHF surveillance targets and address the root cause of performance gaps in the VHF surveillance system. The Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Study This proposed Surgical Site Infection (SSI) surveillance study will proffer comprehensive Hospital Acquired Surgical Site Infection (SSI) epidemiologic data that will contribute to informing the development of effective IPC interventions and promoting patient safety in Nigeria. Additionally, this study willl serve as a bench mark for expanded SSI surveillance in Nigeria, drawing on lessons learnt, and subsequently, this model if successful, could be implemented in the context of an expanded Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) scope. The field experience gained from implementing the SSI study as well as the targeted training components of the project involving the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP) and in-house will strengthen research capacity in country, which is crucial for advancing evidence-based practices in health security programs and other public health programs.
