Enhancing Disease Surveillance at The Site of Outbreak Using Mobile Phone Technology: The Case of Ngorongoro District Arusha, Tanzania

Sayalel, Kuya L. (2013) Enhancing Disease Surveillance at The Site of Outbreak Using Mobile Phone Technology: The Case of Ngorongoro District Arusha, Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the status and performance of human and animal health disease surveillance systems in Tanzania using Ngorongoro district in Arusha region, Tanzania as a case example. The acceptability and reliability of the use of Android mobile phones in the “one health” community- based surveillance system was assessed. The evaluation of the performance of the surveillance systems through visiting and retrieval of disease surveillance forms submitted from the village health facilities to the district medical office (DMO) and district veterinary office (DVO) in Ngorongoro was carried out. A total number of 14 wards of Ngorongoro district were visited and all livestock field officers (LFO) were interviewed. The study also collected data from 13 health facilities, representing approximately 62% of all health facilities in Ngorongoro district. It was further observed that there is poor surveillance in both human and animal health sectors as evidenced by less than 50% submission of reports to DMO/DVO. Major symptoms identified by the Community Health Reporters (CHRs) included Diarrhoea (66.7%), coughing (50%), sores in the mouth (44.4%) and headache (39%). In livestock, the major signs were coughing (61%), lameness and sores in the mouth (33%), and swollen of lymphnodes (31%). The acceptability of android phones was 57%, 77.8% and 75% for the communities, human health officials and LFOs, respectively. Infrastructure problems, lack of reliable transport and remoteness of livestock and human health facilities were mentioned as the major challenges in disease surveillance in the study area. It can be concluded that android mobile phones have the potential to improve surveillance systems under ‘one health’ approach.

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