- Experts say Africa needs better surveillance systems.
- Surveillance must join human, animal and environmental sectors.
- Fragmented data systems delay outbreak detection and response.
- Communities must have many trained health workers.
- Diagnostics must work where patients are seen.
- Climate change and environmental damage affect disease risks.
- Countries try to improve data sharing and coordination.
- Funding and resources for surveillance are limited.
- Integrated systems help detect outbreaks much earlier.
- Communities connect to formal systems through community surveillance.
Difficult words
- surveillance — watching health to find problems early
- outbreak — a sudden increase in disease casesoutbreaks
- diagnostic — tests and tools to find diseaseDiagnostics
- community — a group of people who live in one placeCommunities
- integrated — joined or working together as one system
- fragmented — broken into separate parts or systems
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Are there many trained health workers in your community?
- Should tests work where you see a doctor?
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