Kamran Ahmed1, Muhammad Arish Salam Bukhari2, Mohammad Dauod Altaf3, Peter Clement Lugala4, Ghulam Rabani Popal5, Alaa Abouzeid6,6, Margaret Lamunu7. 1. World Health Organization, Ex. eDEWS Project Team Lead for Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia and Liberia. 2. World Health Organization, Technical Officer Information Systems, Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), Brazzaville. 3. World Health Organization, Team Leader WHO Health Emergencies, Country Office, Afghanistan. 4. World Health Organization, Officer in charge / acting WHO Representative, Country Office, Nigeria. 5. World Health Organization, Senior Advisor to the Regional Director, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), Cairo. 6. World Health Organization, Emergency Operation Manager / Team Lead Operational Partnerships, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), Cairo. 7. World Health Organization, Health Emergency Officer, Headquarter, Geneva.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To share lessons learned with experience in concept development of electronic disease early warning system (eDEWS) as a standardized informatic tool for optimal disease surveillance for early warning and response Network (EWARN) during humanitarian crisis. METHODS: We did literature search, review and analysis to document system attributes of existing electronic tools being used for disease surveillance, early warning and health management information system (HMIS). We generated baseline information and conducted multiple planning sessions with stakeholders for EWARN system requirement elicitation and validation to inform concept development of standardized electronic tool. RESULTS: We identified 98 electronic health projects, classified 22 projects under 'Disease and epidemic outbreak surveillance' theme, whereas only four electronic tools met our selection criteria and were reported to be implemented in humanitarian settings complimentary to EWARN. Baseline information was obtained to guide work on requirement gathering and analysis process, and development of concept for a standardized electronic tool for EWARN. DISCUSSION: The eDEWS was enhanced with an objective to develop standardize electronic tools and data collection procedures to monitor diseases and health events for alert detection in global humanitarian settings. The enhanced system could be harnessed as a powerful tool by outbreak response teams in getting vital epidemiological information for appropriate and timely response during emergencies. CONCLUSION: eDEWS experiences in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan offers an opportunity to learn and apply lessons to improve future health informatics initiatives or adapt eDEWS as a feasible standardized approach to enhance EWARN implementation during humanitarian crisis, and potential integration into routine surveillance systems. This is an Open Access article. Authors own copyright of their articles appearing in the Journal of Public Health Informatics. Readers may copy articles without permission of the copyright owner(s), as long as the author and OJPHI are acknowledged in the copy and the copy is used for educational, not-for-profit purposes.
OBJECTIVE: To share lessons learned with experience in concept development of electronic disease early warning system (eDEWS) as a standardized informatic tool for optimal disease surveillance for early warning and response Network (EWARN) during humanitarian crisis. METHODS: We did literature search, review and analysis to document system attributes of existing electronic tools being used for disease surveillance, early warning and health management information system (HMIS). We generated baseline information and conducted multiple planning sessions with stakeholders for EWARN system requirement elicitation and validation to inform concept development of standardized electronic tool. RESULTS: We identified 98 electronic health projects, classified 22 projects under 'Disease and epidemic outbreak surveillance' theme, whereas only four electronic tools met our selection criteria and were reported to be implemented in humanitarian settings complimentary to EWARN. Baseline information was obtained to guide work on requirement gathering and analysis process, and development of concept for a standardized electronic tool for EWARN. DISCUSSION: The eDEWS was enhanced with an objective to develop standardize electronic tools and data collection procedures to monitor diseases and health events for alert detection in global humanitarian settings. The enhanced system could be harnessed as a powerful tool by outbreak response teams in getting vital epidemiological information for appropriate and timely response during emergencies. CONCLUSION: eDEWS experiences in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan offers an opportunity to learn and apply lessons to improve future health informatics initiatives or adapt eDEWS as a feasible standardized approach to enhance EWARN implementation during humanitarian crisis, and potential integration into routine surveillance systems. This is an Open Access article. Authors own copyright of their articles appearing in the Journal of Public Health Informatics. Readers may copy articles without permission of the copyright owner(s), as long as the author and OJPHI are acknowledged in the copy and the copy is used for educational, not-for-profit purposes.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alert Notifications; Disease Early Warning; Electronic Data Collection; Electronic Tools; Humanitarian Crisis; eDEWS
Authors: Colin Robertson; Kate Sawford; Samson L A Daniel; Trisalyn A Nelson; Craig Stephen Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Kate E Jones; Nikkita G Patel; Marc A Levy; Adam Storeygard; Deborah Balk; John L Gittleman; Peter Daszak Journal: Nature Date: 2008-02-21 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: Irene R Mremi; Calvin Sindato; Coleman Kishamawe; Susan F Rumisha; Sharadhuli I Kimera; Leonard E G Mboera Journal: Glob Health Action Date: 2022-12-31 Impact factor: 2.996
Authors: Cheick Omar Diallo; Karin Linda Schiøler; Helle Samuelsen; Koine Maxime Drabo Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-09-12 Impact factor: 4.135
Authors: Kamran Ahmed; Muhammad Arish Bukhari; Tamayi Mlanda; Jean Paul Kimenyi; Polly Wallace; Charles Okot Lukoya; Esther L Hamblion; Benido Impouma Journal: JMIR Public Health Surveill Date: 2020-10-14