Conference abstract
Surveillance system evaluation of lymphatic filariasis in Ga south, Ghana, 2016
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2017:3(115).01
Nov 2017.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2017.3.115.477
Archived on: 01 Nov 2017
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Lymphatic filariasis, surveillance system, xenosurveillance/xenomonitoring
Oral presentation
Surveillance system evaluation of lymphatic filariasis in Ga south, Ghana, 2016
Anna Jammeh1,&, Nana Yaw Pepra1, Donne Ameme1
1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author
Anna Jammeh, Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Accra, Ghana
Introduction: lymphatic filariasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by nematodes Wuchereria bancrofti and transmitted by mosquitoes. It is a chronic disease that causes disfiguring and debilitating symptoms. In Ghana, Greater Accra is known to be endemic for lymphatic filariasis. The country has made significant progress towards the global programme of elimination of lymphatic filariasis (GPELF) by 2020 through mass drug administration with albendazole plus diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin. We evaluated the lymphatic surveillance system in Ga south to assess whether the objectives of the surveillance system are being met and to assess the attributes of the system.
Methods: the updated guideline for evaluating surveillance systems from CDC was used to interviewer-administer questions. Stakeholders actively involved in the operation of the system were interviewed. Data from Ga South Municipal between 2011 to 2015 was collected, reviewed and analyzed.
Results: a case is any person with hydrocele or lymphedema in resident of an endemic area for which other causes of these findings have been excluded. Of the 104 suspected case reported over the period in Ga south, the predictive value positive was 19.2 % ( 20/104); of the 19 cases, 30% ( 6/20) had hydrocele whilst elephantiasis 70% ( 14/20). The region has reached a 70% of mass drug administration coverage. Data flow from the community to the national has good feedback but discrepancies in the data between the different levels were identified. Currently xenosurveillance/xenomonitoring is currently been done as no active reporting of cases is currently done.
Conclusion: the system was timely, simple, flexible, and useful and with the low PVP is partially meeting its objectives; it is however recommended that the inconsistency of data from the DHIMS compared to the region be improved upon as it was a major challenge.
