Infectious diseases surveillance in Pakistan: Challenges, efforts, and recommendations

Bilal, Wajeeha; Qamar, Khulud; Abbas, Samina; Siddiqui, Amna; Essar, Mohammad Yasir

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103838

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…50 Widespread poverty results in poor sanitation, limitations in receiving healthcare, and inadequate knowledge of common diseases, all contributing to the rise of diarrheal diseases. 51 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The rise of diarrheal illnesses in the children of Pakistan amidst COVID‐19: A narrative review

Rahmat

Zubair

Abdi

et al. 2023

Health Science Reports

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Background In Pakistan, 74 children out of 1000 lose their lives annually due to diarrheal illness. This commentary addresses the contributing factors aggravating this growing dilemma and the effect of a simultaneous rise in COVID‐19 cases in a healthcare system ready to collapse, along with providing recommendations to alleviate the problems causing this spike in diarrheal cases. Methods This narrative review has emphasized the causes of the spike in pediatric diarrheal illnesses in Pakistan as well as recommendations offered to lessen the burden by incorporating recent literature ( n = 68). Tactics to tackle COVID‐19 alongside diarrheal illnesses were also included. Pakistan was chosen to be assessed due to its high burden of child and infant mortality due to preventable causes. Results The provision of safe drinking water, the proper use of Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), adequate awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, the use of correct rehydration techniques such as Oral Rehydration Therapy, and the crucial implementation of the EPI vaccination schedule can curb this increase in diarrheal cases. Conclusion The increased prevalence of diarrheal diseases amongst the pediatric population of Pakistan can be attributed largely due to unsanitary drinking water. Emphasis must be put in the provision of safe drinking water. During the first years of life, children can be kept safe from deadly pathogens just by adequate breastfeeding. IMNCI and EPI must also be properly implemented.

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“…50 Widespread poverty results in poor sanitation, limitations in receiving healthcare, and inadequate knowledge of common diseases, all contributing to the rise of diarrheal diseases. 51 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The rise of diarrheal illnesses in the children of Pakistan amidst COVID‐19: A narrative review

Rahmat

Zubair

Abdi

et al. 2023

Health Science Reports

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…However, emigration of dengue-positive people into unaffected areas from the years 2006-2017 caused various outbreaks to occur in all provinces of Pakistan unrelated to each other [ 16 ]. In 2019, 47,120 people were infected with DENV and just one year before, only 3204 cases were reported [ 17 ]. From January 1st to November 25th, 2021, 48,906 DENV cases were reported [ 18 ].…”

Section: Current Situation Of Vbdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 followed by extreme flooding on vector borne diseases in Pakistan: A mini narrative review

Rahmat

Sadiq

Vohra

et al. 2023

New Microbes and New Infections

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“…The scientific literature on infectious disease surveillance in Pakistan is either quantitative in nature or mostly has discussed the implementation of models like the disease early warning system for surveillance. [10][11][12] However, there is a dearth of literature regarding the challenges that healthcare managers and providers face when implementing disease surveillance programmes and perceptions and experiences of these healthcare professionals regarding barriers to effective surveillance of infectious diseases are less well studied in Pakistan. Such information will not only give an in-depth insight into the challenges faced in infectious disease surveillance but also inform the policy makers with recommendations for addressing those challenges.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, only diseases with global priority (such as COVID-19 and Polio) have managed to get attention, whereas surveillance for diseases of national priority has often struggled to compete for policy space and resources. The scientific literature on infectious disease surveillance in Pakistan is either quantitative in nature or mostly has discussed the implementation of models like the disease early warning system for surveillance 10–12. However, there is a dearth of literature regarding the challenges that healthcare managers and providers face when implementing disease surveillance programmes and perceptions and experiences of these healthcare professionals regarding barriers to effective surveillance of infectious diseases are less well studied in Pakistan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions regarding barriers to effective surveillance of communicable diseases in a rural district of Pakistan: a qualitative study

et al. 2022

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ObjectiveTo explore the experiences and perceptions of health system stakeholders of a rural district of Sindh, Pakistan regarding the barriers to effective surveillance of communicable diseases.DesignThis qualitative descriptive exploratory design comprised in-depth interviews. Both inductive and deductive thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes from the data.SettingsThe study was conducted in public sector healthcare facilities and the district health office of the rural district of Thatta, in Sindh province, Pakistan.ParticipantsFifteen healthcare managers and healthcare providers working in the eight public sector primary and secondary healthcare facilities were interviewed using an open-ended in-depth interview guide.ResultsKey themes that emerged from the data were: poor governance and absence of surveillance policy framework; fragmentation in the health system leading to lack of uniform reporting; inadequate (human) resources that weakened the infrastructure for disease surveillance; hospital-based reporting of cases that led to a predominantly passive surveillance system; paper-based surveillance system as the key determinant of delayed reporting; non-utilisation of surveillance data for decision making; absence of local laboratory capacity to complement the detection of disease outbreaks and lack of private sector integration in disease surveillance.ConclusionsPoor governance and lack of policy framework were perceived to be responsible for weak surveillance infrastructure. Resource deficiencies including inadequate human resource, paper-based reporting and the absence of local laboratory capacity were considered to result in delayed, poor quality and incomplete reporting. The lack of private sector engagement was identified as a major gap.

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Infectious diseases surveillance in Pakistan: Challenges, efforts, and recommendations

Cited by 8 publications

References 8 publications

The rise of diarrheal illnesses in the children of Pakistan amidst COVID‐19: A narrative review

The rise of diarrheal illnesses in the children of Pakistan amidst COVID‐19: A narrative review

The impact of COVID-19 followed by extreme flooding on vector borne diseases in Pakistan: A mini narrative review

Exploring stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions regarding barriers to effective surveillance of communicable diseases in a rural district of Pakistan: a qualitative study

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