| WP 4: Network of Public Health Institutions |
| Background and objectives |
| A part from few infectious diseases for which a valid and
efficacious vaccine is available, surveillance is one of the most important
available instruments that public health personnel can use to contain the
spread of infectious diseases, which do not know geographical borders. Countries belonging to the Mediterranean area share common public health problems. For this reason, it is crucial to create a network of institutions responsible for surveillance of infectious diseases. Communication among partners is the best way to react and respond to possible health threats, and the dissemination of the information to those who need to know enables a prompt action. The main objective of WP4 is to strengthen connections between all participating countries, in order to reduce the variability of approaches in communicable diseases surveillance. WP4 facilitates the networking process, making available information regarding institutions involved in communicable diseases surveillance in the Mediterranean area and in the Balkans. Moreover, the WP4 operates with the aim to harmonise the activities of vertical work packages (WP6, WP7, WP8). |
| Methods |
| WP4 facilitates the networking process and activities through
the creation of a permanent communication tool among participant Institutions
(in collaboration with WP2) and the publication of a Directory of the organizations
of the network. Besides, three plenary meetings will be organised, in order
to strengthen the cooperation on priority public health issues tackled by
the vertical work-packages. The permanent communication tool is a web-based Network working area. The institutes to be involved in the Network (in EU but also in other Mediterranean countries) have been identified considering their role in communicable diseases surveillance (especially in early warning and response systems, vaccine preventable diseases and zoonotic infections) and, more in general, in the public health of their own countries. Information concerning core functions and activities of all the institutions (e.g., organisational structure, research, monitoring and surveillance, control of infectious diseases, diagnostic services, emergency preparedness, training and education) will be collected through the distribution of a structured questionnaire. Later, these data will be published through a directory on the Episouth web-site, in order to disseminate all the relevant information. The directory will be updated yearly. In addition, three plenary yearly Networking Meetings will be organised concomitantly to the Steering Committee meetings in Athens, Sofia and Rome with the aim to agree on and publish three strategic documents on relevant public health issues for the Mediterranean area and the Balkans, developed by the vertical work packages. |
| Expected results |
| Links among institutions belonging to the network will
be strengthened and information regarding the core functions of each public
health institute will be provided. WP4 will produce an yearly updated directory of Institutions involved in surveillance of communicable diseases in southern Europe. Three strategic documents on priority issues relevant in this region (in collaboration with WP 6, 7, and 8) with regard to: - cross border epidemic intelligence - vaccine preventable disease and migrant populations - emerging zoonoses will be published and disseminated. |