Surveillance Unit

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Background

The Vanuatu Surveillance, Research, and Emergency Response Unit is a critical public health unit established through the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization back in 2010 with approval by the government of the Republic of Vanuatu. Recognizing the importance of safeguarding the health and well-being of its citizens and visitors, the unit plays a central role in the country's efforts to detect, prevent, control, and respond to infectious diseases and health emergencies.


Goal, Mission, and Objectives


Goal :

To establish a resilient and integrated public health system that can effectively prevent, detect, and respond to both endemic and emerging health threats.

Mission :

The unit is committed to protecting the health and well-being of the people of Vanuatu and its visitors by establishing a comprehensive and integrated system for monitoring, researching, and swiftly responding to infectious diseases and health emergencies.

Objectives :

  1. Enhanced Disease Surveillance
  2. Strengthen research and innovation
  3. Improve emergency response preparedness
  4. Capacity building and Training
  5. Public Health awareness and communication
  6. Collaboration and partnership

Members

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Services

Focus Areas

The syndromic surveillance system is designed to provide early warning of outbreaks and other important public health events, so that immediate action can be taken. Its main objective is to rapidly detect and respond to signals that might indicate outbreaks of serious epidemic-prone diseases. In 2019, sentinel sites identified following TC Pam have been reviewed and 17 new sentinel sites have been identified and added onto the 11 existing sites based on population coverage. There will be 28 sentinel sites covering 6 provinces and 13 islands (covering over 80% of the total population).

Thirteen Syndromes and specific Diseases are reported on a weekly basis by surveillance focal points in all sentinel sites. Additional syndromes and diseases were included in 2021 according to the evolving context of epidemics and pandemic, these syndromes are; Dengue-zika-Chika like illness, Severe Acute Respiratory Infections, Ciguatera Fish poisoning, Acute Jaundice, Acute Fever and Neurological symptoms, Acute Flaccid Paralysis, Neo-natal Tetanus, Pertussis and Diphtheria. In addition, any unexpected events, deaths, cluster of illness, bird or animal die off should be reported by sentinel sites.

Resources

CONTACT

- Phone number 22512 EXT; 2007

- Gmail – survvan2017@gmail.com

- HPU link – fb page

Working Hours

Office Open Hours: Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM

Hospital/Emergency: 24/7

Contacts

Ministry of Health Office
Port-Vila

Phone: +(678) 22512 / +(678) 33080
VOIP: 2050

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