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The East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet) is a collaborative effort of the Ministries of Health of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as well as national health research, and academic institutions. An important aspect of the Network is to improve the quality of data on communicable diseases and the flow and sharing of information to improve the health of the East African population. The objectives of the Network are to: - Enhance and strengthen cross-country and cross-institutional collaboration through regional coordination of activities,
- Promote exchange and dissemination of appropriate information on Integrated Disease Surveillance (IDS) and other disease control activities,
- Harmonize disease surveillance systems in the region,
- Strengthen capacity for implementing disease surveillance and control activities, and
- Ensure continuous exchange of expertise and best practices for disease surveillance and control.
In February 2000, the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research(NIMR) brought together representatives of the Ministries of Health, National Health Research and Academic Institutions of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, to discuss the need for concerted efforts to ensure that correct epidemiological information is obtained and shared among the East African Partner States for synergistic efforts in communicable disease control. This called for the provision of common action plans for the identification, monitoring and control of these disease problems in the region. This led to the establishment of Phase I of the East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet) with financial assistance from the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) of New York, United States of America (USA). Phase II of EAIDSNet was established under the auspices of the East African Community (EAC) in August 2003. The East African Disease Surveillance Network Project (Phase II) has received funding from the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), New York, USA. The fund amounts to $ 406,760 for 3 years. Already the Rockefeller Foundation has remitted $165,532 as an initial payment for Year 1 of the project for the period beginning 1st August 2003. During Phase II the Network will: Strengthen communication and collaboration among the three East African Partner States in all aspects of disease surveillance. Strengthen the capacity of collaborating institutions and district health management teams of border districts in strategic and operational approaches in disease surveillance and control; and Collaborate on the development of training programs for staff to implement disease surveillance and control activities.
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EAIDSNet
