During a training conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), 3,455 community leaders and village health workers in Lesotho were trained on event-based surveillance. The training took place in Mohales Hoek, Butha Buthe, Qachas Nek, and Thaba Tseka Districts. Event-based surveillance involves collecting and monitoring information related to events that may threaten public health. The goal of the training was to strengthen public health preparedness and response mechanisms by proactively identifying and managing health events.
The training was prompted by the findings of an Intra-Action Review (IAR) conducted in 2021, which revealed weaknesses in the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance system in Lesotho. One of the key factors contributing to these weaknesses was the inadequate knowledge of health workers. To address this, the WHO consultant Francis Abobo emphasized the importance of establishing an event-based surveillance system to build a resilient public health infrastructure.
Village health workers play a crucial role in event-based surveillance as they have valuable insights into local health dynamics. The training aimed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to assist in early disease detection and prevention within their communities. With the support of WHO and its partners, event-based surveillance has been introduced in Lesotho, and this training is expected to contribute to the improvement of the surveillance system.
This training is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen public health in Lesotho and ensure the timely detection and response to health events. By empowering community leaders and village health workers with the tools and knowledge they need, Lesotho is taking proactive steps towards building a resilient and effective public health system. [559e18c5]