Projects
Connecting Health Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance (CHORDS)
Background
Regional disease surveillance networks around the world offer many lessons that can be applied to other regions planning to build similar networks. These organizations are proving grounds for developing novel approaches that improve the quality of infectious disease detection and control worldwide.
In December 2007, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, NTI's Global Health and Security Initiative (GHSI) convened twenty-three experts and representatives from infectious disease surveillance networks in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Their aim was to share best practices and lessons learned and recommend action required to advance the global capacity for public health surveillance. Subsequently, the Bellagio "Call for Action" was published encompassing these recommendations. In the "Call for Action" participants identified their three vital concerns with regard to infectious disease surveillance to be:
- Governance arrangements for networks. A flexible approach to governance arrangements is needed that is appropriate to local political, economic and social conditions. While lessons could be learned from each other, no single model will suit all regions. It was also decided, based on experience that investment of time in building trust between collaborating partners is an essential ingredient for success;
- Efficient electronic knowledge management and sharing. It was agreed that the most appropriate information and communications technology (ICT) should be developed and employed to facilitate timely and accurate sharing of surveillance information and best practices. This will allow for timely alert and collective responses to control outbreaks. Public-private partnerships should be promoted to advance and ensure the best use of ICT systems; and
- Capacity Building. It was agreed that capacity, especially human and laboratory capacities, are seriously inadequate in many developing countries. Advances are required urgently, not only to enhance badly needed national capacities, but also to facilitate substantive cross-border cooperation between and among countries.
CHORDS
With support from NTI, The Rockefeller Foundation and Fondation Mérieux, GHSI has launched a process called Connecting Health Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance (CHORDS) to help implement the "Call for Action." CHORDS will create a multi-sector community of practice to improve early detection and response in the regional networks and strengthen partnerships for global health security.
With guidance from an international steering committee, CHORDS will:
- Form a multi-sector community of practice for disease surveillance and relevant experts for sharing standards and distributing common knowledge;
- Harness experience of disease surveillance experts in the animal, human, and agricultural sectors from around the world through collaboration by direct, interactive problem solving:
- Drive connectivity and improve knowledge management using a hybrid system of advanced tools and technologies;
- Assist participating countries to meet their legal obligations under the 2005 International Health Regulations
- Make recommendations and generate support to sustain and develop regional disease surveillance networks.
Activities
Three working groups and a partnership group have been formed to support the CHORDS process and vision. They are communicating through online and in-person meetings, sharing experiences and developing the capabilities to address their common concerns.
A CHORDS conference will take place in March 2010 at Fondation Mérieux's Les Pensières conference center in Annecy, France. Attendance is by invitation only.
Supporters
The Rockefeller Foundation has provided GHSI a grant for CHORDS to establish the steering committee, hire staff, and convene the 2010 CHORDS conference. In addition, Fondation Mérieux has offered its facilities for the 2010 CHORDS conference as an in-kind donation.
Regional Networks and Partner Organizations
— Regional Networks
— Partner Organizations
— Global Health and Security Initiative