Integrated Epidemiological Surveillance Support Project - Phase 2 (iESSP 2)

In an effort to improve overall health care performance, the production, use, management, and distribution of health information regarding the decision-making process, remain a priority in West-Africa. Epidemiological surveillance is now universally recognized as an essential component of public health and holds a crucial role in resource planning, allocation and mobilisation, in the early detection of epidemics, as well as in measuring the impact of prevention programs.

The iESSP 2 Project is a “multi-country project” whose aim is to play a role in improving the health of West-African populations through efficient and sustainable reinforcement of endemoepidemic control mechanisms.  Its overall objective is to provide technical and financial support to six countries of this region (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, and Niger), strengthening their epidemiological surveillance capabilities.

The project will take place over a period of four and a half years (2003-2007), and will have a global budget of 14.95 million dollars (6,129,500,000 CFA Francs).  As with preceding projects (ESSP / 1991-1998, and iESSP / 1998-2002), these countries will receive ongoing support to implement their HIV / AIDS integrated surveillance strategies.  The Project is working on an early detection network and on setting up epidemic control measures, reinforcing and/or creating Epidemiological Surveillance Units (ESU) and Health Information and Epidemiological Surveillance Units (HIESU).  Two cross-disciplinary themes are being integrated: the fight against STI/HIV/AIDS, and Gender equity (in a gender and development perspective)—concerns that can be found in training modules, for instance, as well as in Project results indicators.

To ensure sustainability, a result-based priority has been placed on institutional training (now having been provided in medical learning institutions for over 10 years).  During the course of the project, a heavily-documented operational research, aimed at introducing a community-based epidemiological surveillance system, will determine the level of community involvement in the epidemiological surveillance of main health care concerns.  

Project implementation will follow CCISD result-based indicators and CIDA orientation policies.  While emphasising better coordination between partners in development within current national programs, the mandate to support epidemiological services of health ministries will be incorporated in these countries’ principal health care reform guidelines: decentralisation, empowerment, and participation.  

Standing to benefit from the Project (either directly or indirectly) are: 61 national-level trainers, 152 district medical officers, 84 employees of the newly-created ESU/HIESU, 128 employees of former ESU/HIESU and their 168 substitutes, central-level Department of Health employees, as well as countless women and children—most particularly those coming from underprivileged classes—exposed to the various endemic diseases.