Epidemiological Surveillance and Early Warning Management Network project (SEGA), Indian Ocean

Date: From Jan 01, 2014 to Oct 28, 2014

Country: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles

The Epidemiological Surveillance and Early Warning Management Network project (SEGA Network) in the Member States of the Indian Ocean Commission aims to help reduce the risk of epidemics in the south-west region of the Indian Ocean. It is structured around two specific objectives:
– the establishment of a regional epidemiologic monitoring network and coordinated response;
– national capacity building for monitoring epidemic-prone diseases and responding to epidemics in IOC Member States including an animal health component. This project is funded by the Agence Française de Dévelopement (French agency for Development-AFD) .The project owner is the Indian Ocean Commission and the Project Supervisor is EpiConcept.

IQLS is in charge of laboratory related activities such as:

– Organization of External Quality Assessment twice a year
– Training, capacity building

The EQA program includes five laboratories in 4 countries : Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion (CHU Pole Nord and CHU Pole Sud), Seychelles. The program aims to assess the laboratories’ capacity to diagnose Dengue and Chickungunya. IQLS is in charge of the organization of the program, the development of the web interface on which participants enter their results and of the procedures to be followed . IQLS is as well in charge of the reporting.

Upon specific request from the countries trough the Indian Ocean Commission, IQLS organise training sessions or capacity building missions. Such activities can be implemented to train the staff on diagnostic technics, on biosafety practices, to assess the worflow and make recommendation for optimization, etc.