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I-TECH

Global Health Security Agenda in Kenya

Post categories: eLearning/Distance Learning Global Health Security Health Information Systems Human Resources for Health Kenya Laboratory Systems Peter Rabinowitz Quality Improvement
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I-TECH Kenya’s Global Health Security (GHSA) funded programs aim to advance the GHSA  through strengthening information systems and reporting.

The key objectives are preventing and reducing the likelihood of disease outbreaks, improving the efficiency and accuracy of the detection of communicable diseases, strengthening surveillance capacity and national and county levels for a rapid and effective response, enhancing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices to prevent the emergence and spread of pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

Prevention

Use IPC practices to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other microbial threats:

  • Building capacity for IPC in health care facilities is a critical part of disease outbreak and AMR preparedness and prevention. In Kenya, I-TECH partners with the CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to support two model hospitals in developing capacity for quality improvement measures for strengthening evidence-based IPC practices, infrastructure, and tools including hand hygiene, waste management, injection safety, surgical site infections, and antimicrobial stewardship. These projects are serving as a model for other health care facilities in the country.
  • In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization, Jhpiego, and the Infection Control Action Network, I-TECH is working to  create and pilot e-learning modules for IPC. The modules aim to build clinical skills and technical knowledge in infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship among health care workers in low-resource settings.

Disease Prevention through Immunization Program Strengthening:

  • In Kenya, I-TECH collaborates with the MOH, CDC Global Health Protection Division, and the CDC Global Immunization Division, to build and roll out an online mobile platform for capturing immunization data at the point of care.
  • The electronic vaccine registry (EVR) can provide coverage and help build capacity for improving the quality and use of immunization data to reduce the likelihood of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
  • I-TECH is also evaluating the functionality, acceptability, and workflow of the mobile platform along with key vaccination outcomes.

Detection

Laboratory Information Systems Strengthening:

  • In Kenya, I-TECH collaborates with the MOH and National Public Health Laboratory Services to enhance and strengthen laboratory information systems at the facility and national levels to improve timeliness and efficiency of testing and reporting results, specifically for antimicrobial resistance testing.
  • I-TECH supports the customization of the Basic Laboratory Information System (BLIS) to include features that support communicable disease reporting and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Response

Disease Surveillance and Response:

  • I-TECH supports the MOH Surveillance Unit in the rollout of trainings for health care workers to routinely and consistently use the real-time surveillance reporting system in Kenya.