Intersectoral coordination and social mobilization IDSP training module

Inter-sectoral coordination and social mobilization IDSP training module for state and district surveillance officers Module 12

Learning objectives (1/2) • Describe the strategies and action plan to mobilize community participation • Describe surveillance activities related to existing vertical disease control programmes at the district level to facilitate integration

Learning objectives (2/2) • Describe the strategies and action plan to mobilize community participation • Describe surveillance activities related to existing vertical disease control programmes at the district level to facilitate integration

Coordination • The process of linking the activities of various departments of an organization • The process by which managers achieve integrated patterns of group and individual effort § i. e. , Develop unity of action in common purposes • The integration, synchronization or orderly patterning of group efforts by an organization towards the accomplishment of common goals or objectives

Cooperation and collaboration • Cooperation § Collective effort put willingly and voluntarily by a group in the performance of any work § No time quality or directional framework • Collaboration § The joint conduct of programme or project § Emphasizes the sharing of similar responsibilities on the basis of an agreement

Inter-sectoral versus intra-sectoral coordination • Intra-sectoral coordination § Coordination within an organization between its various subsystems and units or agents • Inter-sectoral coordination § Coordination with non-health organizations, sectors or agencies to achieve goals

Intra-sectoral coordination • The final common pathway § Grass root level • Same people conduct surveillance for various programmes and agencies § From district level onwards • Information goes through various channels • Integration of surveillance activities from various programmes § One of the primary objectives of the programme § Key determinant of sustainability

Inter-sectoral coordination • Various health and non-health departments need to share information generated by the surveillance mechanisms • Need for effective sharing of information on surveillance with all stakeholders § Health department § Other governmental and non-governmental agencies

Stakeholders • • Medical officer of primary health centres Sentinel private practitioners Community representatives District § All members of the district surveillance unit • State § All members of the state surveillance unit

Aim of the social mobilization campaign • Create awareness among: § § Partners Private practitioners Non governmental organizations Community • Establish an institutional mechanism to involve community and their leaders § Rotating membership in: • District surveillance committee • Block surveillance committee

Strategizing communication • Adapt message and format to the audiences • Consider all media § § § Electronic media Press Hoardings Handbills Posters Inter-personal communication through health providers

Feedback strengthens effective intersectoral and intra-sectoral coordination • Sharing of information with all stakeholders • Share regular reports at the state and district levels § Make available on line / electronically

Community stakeholders • Persons to involve § Anybody who can provide information on the possible occurrence of the diseases • School teacher, informal community leader • Ways to involve community representatives § Share information (Feedback) § Obtain information (Listen)

Being close from the community • People volunteer in areas where health workers enjoy a good relationship with their communities • Individual initiatives taken by enthusiastic health staff make a difference • Key contacts § § § Village elders’ Ladies Pradhan (Village head) Panchayat members Chowkidar (Village guard)

Socio-cultural issues • Socio-cultural barriers and gender disparities may influence the sensitivity of data collected § Religious minorities may distrust the public sector § Urban clients in high rise may not use public system § Poor may feel neglected in the public sector • Social mobilization campaign need to address all these socio-cultural beliefs

Engaging medical colleges • Responsibility of the state surveillance unit § Memoranda of understanding • Selection of a coordinating medical college by the Director of Medical Education • Facilitation by the health secretary • Possibility for medical colleges to work in urban surveillance • Contacts at the central level will facilitate these synergies

Institutional Integrated Disease Surveillance Project sub-committee within medical colleges • Principal / superintendent § Report to Integrated Disease Surveillance Project • • • Community medicine Medicine Pediatrics Chest and tuberculosis Microbiology Cardiology

Additional potential roles of medical colleges • • Reference laboratories Quality assurance and evaluation Training Outbreak investigations § In collaboration with the district surveillance officer / medical officer • Non communicable disease risk factor surveillance

Qualities required for coordination • • Leadership Effective communication Ability to mobilize people and resources Ability to recognize and acknowledge input

Example: Stakeholders involved to respond to an outbreak of hepatitis E Stakeholder Potential role Health • Surveillance • Case management • Coordination Water board • Investigation of the water supply • Repairs Animal husbandry • Investigation of possible animal reservoirs Media • Information, education and communication Non-governmental organizations • Community participation

Points to remember (1/3) • IDSP is a new initiative that requires integration and coordination within and between different departments • All surveillance activities will need to be coordinated under the district surveillance officer • Inter-sectoral coordination is perhaps the biggest challenge in implementation of the programme

Points to remember (2/3) • The sustainability of the programme depends on the extent of inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral coordination • People’s participation is key to: § Complete coverage § Timely reporting • Integrated and coordinated surveillance will: § Pooling / share resources § Avoid wastage / improve efficiency § Ensure quality and sustainability

Points to remember (3/3) • The medical officer / district surveillance officer will need to use the interdepartmental coordination committee to bring up: § Positive products of the cooperation § Non-action / non-reporting • The leadership, commitment and communication skills of the medical officer / district surveillance officer will be critical