Control of infectious diseases through timely reporting is a fundamental requirement in disease surveillance. Government and non-governmental organisations are charged with the responsibility of promoting a healthy society. In order to realize this, these organization need to lay down policies and roles that enhances control of infectious diseases. World Health Organisation has established a Global Alert and Response program to address outbreak of infectious diseases and other diseases of international importance. CDC is one of the leading non-governmental organisations that support public health globally by working closely with other partners in prevention and control of communicable and chronic diseases.
Individual countries also have responsibility of improving their health through timely reporting of infectious diseases. Countries promote health education of the medical staffs and citizen as well so that they are able to identify infectious diseases and report them immediately (Global Health Government, 2009, p.19). The essay seeks to explore the policies and roles of CDC, WHO and individual countries in prevention and control of infectious diseases.
WHO has developed a Global Outbreak Alert and response program to help in prevention and control of infectious diseases. This program provides human and monetary resources to the affected regions to enhance immediate identification, reporting and confirmation of infectious diseases that are in the list of notifiable diseases. Networking of expertise from different regions is also strengthened by Global Network Response program to ensure that the international community is well prepared to respond to any outbreaks. WHO also gives support to all member countries in order to improve their capacity in response to infectious diseases outbreaks. The organisation has also laid policies which aid in combating global spread of infectious diseases. This is achieved by providing technical assistance to all affected regions ( WHO, 200, P. 45).
CDC conducts training of health professionals such as epidemiologist, physicians and laboratory technologists in at least 24 countries. These professionals are stationed so that they are able to detect and report infectious diseases to the relevant authorities. This control spread of infectious of infectious diseases within and without the affected regions. CDC is strategically placed to coordinate international health activities such as identification of infectious disease such as HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, and training of health professionals.
CDC also protects health care providers and patients from contracting infectious diseases by implementing occupational protective measures. For instance all health care provides investigating outbreak of infectious diseases are provided with protective gears. Prevention and evaluation department design and encourage execution of evidence based instructions to avoid any healthcare related infections. Individual countries develop health policies that enhance rapid reporting and confirmation of infectious diseases.
For instance, many countries have established diseases surveillance departments which keep track of infectious diseases in different regions. Countries also facilitate health education and promotion to create awareness to the public on infectious diseases which require immediate reporting. Policies that allow allocation of funds to combat infectious diseases through immediate reporting, identification and confirmation have been developed by different countries (CDC, 2010, P.23).
Government and non-governmental organisations have realized their obligation of controlling infectious diseases through rapid reporting. They have established international networks that enable expertise to track infectious diseases and hence avoid local and international spread of diseases. WHO provide both monetary and humanitarian assistance to affected region in order to combat infectious diseases. WHO also gives support to all member countries in order to improve their capacity in response to infectious diseases outbreaks. CDC offer laboratory and epidemiologic support to enable rapid reporting and diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Reference List
Center for diseases control and prevention (2010). Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. Web.
Global Health Government (2009). The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Web.
World Health Organisation.(2000). Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network. Web.