A Review of Infectious Disease Surveillance in Aotearoa

This project will review Aotearoa New Zealand’s current ID surveillance systems and assess their ability to support the prevention and control of important IDs in a timely and equitable manner.

Surveillance review
Principal Investigator
Michael Baker
University of Otago
Public Contact
Kim Thomas
teniwhacomms@otago.ac.nz
Project Timeframe/Status
-
In Process

Whakarāpopoto Rangahau Summary of Research

To ensure New Zealand has a world-class surveillance system to support a highly effective response to important infectious disease threats.

This project will review Aotearoa New Zealand’s current ID surveillance systems and assess their ability to support the prevention and control of important IDs in a timely and equitable manner. There will be a strong focus on diseases which can cause outbreaks and pandemics, and diseases that particularly affect Māori, Pacific Peoples, and those on low-incomes. The project will then carry out a ‘gap analysis’ by comparing our current surveillance capacity with what is needed to meet the needs of national agencies, local disease control practitioners and services, Māori decision makers, and communities. The end result will be a well-informed agenda for systems change to give this country the surveillance systems it needs to protect its people from current and emerging ID threats.

Te Hiranga a Rangahau Research Impact

Immediate impacts of this research:

- Systematic stocktake of current surveillance capacity and diverse end user information needs at national and local levels which is likely to help system operators to identify and make immediate system improvements.

- Shared concepts and vocabulary for discussing information needs from an ID surveillance system which could help to support greater system standardisation and integration.

- Wider appreciation of the value and power of information for supporting a strengths-based approach to understand and manage ID risk at national and local levels which should support the case for additional resourcing.

Long-term impacts of this research:

- Highly effective surveillance systems to meet the requirements of stakeholders.

- Greater health security from improved pandemic surveillance systems.

- Robust and relevant information that is available in a timely manner to Māori health organisations, practitioners, and communities to support improved ID management.

- More equitable management of IDs, with reduced Māori and Pacific rates of infection and serious outcomes that are more in-line with what is seen in the non-Māori non-Pacific population.

Te Niwha

Project Leader

Dr Michael Baker
University of Otago

 

Locations

University of Otago, Wellington