HAIs surveillance is an important component of IPC programs, but all the assessments present it as the weakest and most difficult to implement in resource-limited countries.
The objectives of this work were to provide information on the real situation in the African region marqued by many challenges, but also many opportunities to be seized in terms of recommendations and tools for implementation, with a view to proposing an appropriate strategy.
Joint external assessments of minimum requirements for HAIs surveillance have revealed that at least 32 countries are currently at level 1 of 5 possible levels, lacking a strategic plan.
The main challenges to be addressed require long-term work: economic constraints, required expertise, as well as limited capacities of health systems.
The main opportunities to be seized are based on the GLASS system, the new WHO practical guide for surveillance, and the African legal framework for IPC, complemented by other WHO technical tools and action plans.
The regional strategy is based on a generic roadmap for all countries, but it will need to be adapted to each country's specific circumstances.
The roadmap is based on the following steps:
- Establishment of a dedicated national multidisciplinary group
- Situational analysis
- Adaptation of the regional strategy, which includes simultaneously two areas of work:
+ Annual national prevalence surveys
+ Progressive construction of a sustainable and effective national surveillance system
- Implementation through annual operational plans to be integrated into the annual operational plans of the national program
- Monitoring and evaluation