Surveillance and DHIS2 training for Antigua and Barbuda

St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, 4 September 2025 (PAHO) - Groups of health care workers are receiving training sessions over a two-week period, from August 29th to September 10th, to strengthen their surveillance and digital health management expertise.

Public Health Officers, Vector Control Officers and Environmental Health Staff, those officers who are surveillance focal points at health facilities and hospitals, are participating in the 'Epidemiological and Entomological Surveillance and DHIS2 Fundamentals workshop'.

The purpose of the training is to equip the staff with knowledge in disease and mosquito surveillance, focusing on data definitions, collection processes, quality assurance, and mosquito collection, identification and analysis, and practical data entry. The workshop also focusses on dashboard utilization within DHIS2 platform for effective arboviral disease monitoring in Antigua and Barbuda.

Methodology is diverse and involves combining interactive lectures, group discussions, practical exercises, and hands-on computer sessions using the DHIS2 platform.

PAHO is collaborating with the OECS Commission and with the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs to fund the training. Funding is being derived from the Pandemic Fund for Eastern Caribbean Countries and country funding received from Direct Relief through the OECS Commission.

Describing the training as one more step toward strengthening surveillance in the region, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC), Dr. Amalia Del Riego, said the PAHO team is pleased with the level of participation of the Antigua and Barbuda health officials. "Sessions such as these provide PAHO with an opportunity to gauge the competence of health staff, identify the knowledge gaps and address them. Surveillance is a critical component to ensuring we protect our population from infectious diseases and ensure staff remain vigilant. Effective surveillance systems are crucial for early detection, rapid response, and ultimately, the control of outbreaks."