Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

The Global emergence and reemergence of viral infections and new cycles of pandemics necessitated the global health
surveillance so important and have received unprecedented recognition. This article proposes, “An Integrated Comprehensive
Global Surveillance Strategy” to address the issues and challenges of Global Health by strengthening Surveillance system at
multistage levels from local to Global. 1) Up gradation of International Health Regulations, WHO’s eHealth systems, smart
phone technology, Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and Research are becoming essential internationally. 2)
At Regional level, the neighboring countries which are organizing surveillance worldwide at their source, to control crossborder
outbreaks, need to be expanded to nearby countries and linked to WHO. 3) At the national level, the critical gaps
in the implementation of IDSR guidelines to be revised and reshaped for the collection, dissemination, and interventions,
for epidemic response. The immunization programs, drug resistance surveillance, Research are also to be integrated with
global surveillance. 4) At the State/local level, Integrating Epidemiological networks, the Private practitioners networks, Govt.
surveillance Networks, cross border surveillance networks, Eco-health, Veterinary public health surveillance network and the
data related to screening of travelers, mortality, climate, lab are needed for Research. 5) Capacity building in field epidemiology,
assessing social determinants, host, vector, pathogen interactions and mapping of disease hot spots are required to predict,
prevent and control the global level outbreaks. Diversity and complexity of global health, creating an integrated infrastructure
of Surveillance and Research are biggest challenges, but WHO, developed nations, donor agencies support needed to overcome
this.

Biography

G Ravivarman is presently working as Director & Professor of Community medicine, Chettinad University, India, for teaching PG and UG medical students in Public
Health, Epidemiology and guiding research projects. He is Qualified MD, DPH, DPM, MBBS, under TN Medical University. He did Consultancy and Research work
with UNICEF (IMNCI), AIIMS, Delhi. He did Consultancy and Health Management services for DANIDA (RCH), WORLD BANK (ICDS III project), also worked
as Addl. He is the Director of Public Health, Consultant and Technical Advisor for AIDS control programs. He published research articles in various national and
International Journals. He is the Member of INCLEN and Honorable Secretary for India Clinical Epidemiologial Network, Member of Indian Public Health Association.