Abstract: Background: Widespread epidemics of malaria, yellow fever, meningitis and Tuberculosis across the Sub-Saharan African in the 1990s were largely attributed to poor surveillance systems which were neither able to detect communicable diseases on time nor build up an effective response. Effective communicable disease control relies on effective response systems which are dependent upon effective disease surveillance. Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR) was adopted by the AFRO members of the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve surveillance activities. Objective: This study was conducted to assess IDSR implementation in selected Health Facilities of Dawuro zone. Settings and Design: Dawuro zone is located in Southwestern Ethiopia. It shares borders with the Gamo-Gofa zone in south, Wolayta zone in the east, Konta Special district in the west, Oromia region in North, Hadya and Kambata Tembaro Zones in North east. Based on the 2006 census, it has a population of 590,090. A cross-sectional facility based descriptive study was conducted. Materials and Methods: An interviewer administered questionnaire of an adapted from the WHO Protocol for the Assessment of National Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response systems was used. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21. Results: All of the health facilities (38%) have any case definition for the priority diseases. About 43% of the health facilities had electricity. Only seven percent has standby generators, which were functional. All health centers had calculators and stationery available for data management while 36% had computers and but 28% have printers available. No form of data analysis was available in 93% of the health centers, analysis of data were however available in all 14 Health centers studied. A reporting system was available in 92% of health centers. There was no feedback from the region to the district health offices and Health centers, nor was there feedback from the national to the zone level. Conclusion and recommendation: The implementation of IDSR in Dawuro zone is moderate. Resources are insufficient and although some structures are present on ground like the presence of reporting mechanism, feedback is low from the higher to lower levels. Standard case definitions are not used in all health facilities for all priority diseases. Standard case definitions should be made available and used in all health facilities.Abstract: Background: Widespread epidemics of malaria, yellow fever, meningitis and Tuberculosis across the Sub-Saharan African in the 1990s were largely attributed to poor surveillance systems which were neither able to detect communicable diseases on time nor build up an effective response. Effective communicable disease control relies on effective respons...Show More
