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Collaborations

Under leadership of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness has established the Veterans Affairs Integrated Operations Center, with the goal of enhancing integration and analysis of data, and information from VA’s preparedness partners, both internal and external, for timely decision support. The Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness oversee emergency preparedness for the VA, which includes responsibility for preparedness activities at Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA provides medical care to over 5 million patients a year at 153 medical centers, and over 900 outpatient clinics in the United States, and the United States territories. The Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness is developing a VA–Subject Matter Expertise Center for Biological Events in collaboration with the VHA–National Infectious Diseases Program Office. The Subject Matter Expertise Center for Biological Events is initiating pilot projects to examine data sources, integration, and predictive analysis. The recent increase in dengue cases internationally prompted the Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness, and the Subject Matter Expertise Center for Biological Events to establish collaborations, and investigate factors influencing dengue disease patterns in VHA facilities. The National Weather Service has the mission to provide weather, water and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property, and enhancement of the national economy. The Veterans Affairs Integrated Operations Center enabled collaboration with the National Weather Service for integration of weather, water and climate data, and retrospective analysis into preparedness activities.

Objective

The objective of this study is to describe Veterans Affairs Integrated Operations Center-enabled collaborations to enhance the synergy of relevant data/information from Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA partners for improved early warning, and situational awareness of infectious disease threats.

Referenced File
Submitted by teresa.hamby@d… on

Kerala is a small state in India, having a population of only 34 million (2011 census) but with excellent health indices, human development index and a worthy model of decentralised governance. Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, a centrally supported surveillance program, in place since 2006 and have carved its own niche among the best performing states, in India. Laboratory confirmation of health related events/disease outbreaks is the key to successful and timely containment of such events, which need support from a wide range of Laboratories-from Primary care centers to advanced research laboratories, including private sector. In a resource constraint setting, an effective model of Partnership have helped this state in achieving great heights. Networking with laboratories of Medical Education Department, and Premier Private sector laboratories, Financing equipment and reagents through decentralised governance program, resource sharing with other National programs, Laboratories of Food Safety, Fisheries and Water authorities have resulted in laboratory confirmation of public health events to the extend of 75-80% in the past 5 years in the state. Etiological confirmation accelerated response measures, often multidisciplinary, involving Human health sector, Animal Health, Agriculture, wild life and even environmental sectors, all relevant in One Health context.

Objective: To prove the role of partnerships in Disease Surveillance and Response to emerging public health threats in Kerala state, India.

Submitted by elamb on
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