Community Based Disease Surveillance Guideline, 2082

Overview

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal, has officially endorsed a new Guideline for Community-Based Disease Surveillance 2082. The guideline has been developed in line with the provisions of the Public Health Service Act, 2018.

The guideline aims to strengthen the early detection and timely reporting of communicable diseases and public health emergencies at the community level. By improving disease surveillance and reporting systems, the guideline seeks to support rapid response to health risks, enhance coordination among different levels of government, and better protect the health and safety of citizens across the country.

Key Highlights of the Guideline:

1. Rapid Response: Establishes a systematic process for the collection, analysis, and communication of health data to ensure immediate action during outbreaks.
2. International Compliance: Aligns Nepal’s health monitoring with the International Health Regulations (2005), ensuring the country meets global standards for reporting health emergencies.
3. Three-Tier Coordination: Mandates a unified effort between Federal, Provincial, and Local governments, moving away from a centralized approach to a community-rooted system.
4. Early Warning System: Focuses on detecting “unanticipated incidents” at the grassroots level to prevent local outbreaks from turning into national crises.
5. Integration of Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS).

The community-based surveillance system operates as follows:

• Reporting Unusual Events: If unexpected public health events or disease symptoms are seen in the community, affected individuals, patients, or community stakeholders (such as Female Community Health Volunteers, teachers, or local representatives) must inform the nearest health facility or call ‘Hello Health’ at 1115.
• Data Entry: Staff at ‘Hello Health 1115’ will enter the information into the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS).
• Notification: Once entered into SORMAS, local levels and relevant health institutions will be notified to take action.
• When a patient visits a health facility, health workers must enter the data into SORMAS or EWARS within 24 hours if the symptoms match specific listed diseases.
• Media Monitoring: Information can also be captured through regular monitoring of mass media by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, which is then entered into the system.

Related documents

• Public Health Emergency Management Directive, 2082
• What is Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?
• Public Health Service Regulation, 2077
• Emergency Health Service Package
• Public Health Emergency
• Health Emergency Operation Center
• Health Sector Response to Flood and Landslide – 2017 (Published by EDCD)
• Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division