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Introduction
What is PPHSN?
The Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network
(PPHSN) is a voluntary network of countries and organisations
dedicated to the promotion of public health surveillance and
appropriate response to the health challenges of 22 Pacific Island
countries and territories.
Goal:
PPHSN's goal is to improve public health surveillance and
response in the Pacific Islands in a sustainable way.
The first priorities
of PPHSN are communicable diseases, especially the outbreak-prone
ones. At this stage the target diseases include: dengue,
measles/rubella, influenza, leptospirosis, typhoid fever, cholera,
SARS and HIV and STIs.
Who are its
members?
PPHSN's
core members are the Ministries and Departments of Health of the
Pacific Island countries and territories who serve as the Governing
Body of PPHSN.
The network is further supported by
allied members — regional
training institutions, agencies, laboratories, and other
organisations or networks with an interest in public health
surveillance in the region, who chose to be a PPHSN member.
When was it created?
PPHSN was created in 1996 under the
joint auspices of SPC and WHO.
The
PPHSN strategies
are the following:
Harmonisation
of health data needs and development of adequate surveillance systems,
including operational research.
Development
of relevant computer applications.
Adaptation
of field
epidemiology and public health surveillance training programmes to
local and regional needs.
Promoting
the use of Email, opening the network to new partners, new services and
other
networks.
Publication.
The PPHSN include 4
services:
PacNet: for alert and communication
LabNet: for verification
and identification
EpiNet:
for preparedness, response and capacity building
PICNet:
for infection control
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