Implementation of the WHO Strategy for Prevention
and Control of Chronic Respiratory Diseases
CRDs: Surveillance
| Monitoring needs to be undertaken as part
of a comprehensive plan to control and prevent CRDs. Success in control and prevention
requires (box): |
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1. Knowledge of the causes of the disease
2. Means to control either the cause, the exposure, or the effects
3. Political will and resources to intervene |
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Data collection needs to be
feasible, affordable and robust |
Burden Assessment for Priority
Setting
The burden of CRDs relative to other diseases will vary from country to country. These
will depend on the age structure of the local population, and local levels of exposure to
risk factors. The data gathered via surveillance tools can inform local decision makers
and provide the supporting evidence for priority setting. |
Pre and Post Intervention
Evaluation
Surveillance tailored to a programme or project guides programme development and service
delivery. The surveillance information aims to monitor the impact a programme has on
exposure to risks or on the incidence or prevalence of disease and monitors progress
towards defined goals. Monitoring exposure to risks and incidence and prevalence of
disease serves to monitor the effectiveness of a planned intervention and to trigger
changes in the programme where these are appropriate. |
Evidence Based Resource
Management
Governments throughout the world seek to provide prevention and treatment programmes that
are affordable, effective, and make best use of resources. Appropriate research including
cost effectiveness studies and management audits can provide the information required by
governments to meet their needs in this context. |
Some etiological factors for disease development such
as tobacco and air pollution will be central to other programmes, and the means to control
these factors often exist outside the realm of the health sector. Therefore, direct or
indirect control over these agents and monitoring in these areas may be independent of the
CRD programme. Co-operative approaches with other project coordinators, agencies or
sectors of a community will be required to ensure that the needs of the CRD programme are
met in these areas.
Points of Future Action by WHO:
- Review of current resources, tools
- Development of tools where necessary
- Technical assistance to implement tailored surveillance programmes
- Development of co-operative surveillance networks
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