Integrated post-validation and post-verification surveillance planning toolkit for neglected tropical diseases: a planning toolkit

Overview

Aim of the toolkit

The toolkit is designed to guide NTD programme staff and health ministries (or their equivalent) in identifying and evaluating options for sustainable and integrated approaches to surveillance after elimination has been verified or validated. The primary user is intended to be national NTD programmes and their partners in countries approaching elimination of an NTD. Secondary users may include national surveillance officers, other staff within health ministries, local community members, WHO staff and global stakeholders supporting elimination efforts.

The toolkit offers a pathway for identifying and evaluating opportunities to integrate PVS with existing or proposed surveillance systems. It also provides step-by-step guidance on how to collaborate with other health programmes to assess the feasibility of integrating PVS and develop a roadmap towards integrated PVS. The toolkit is designed to:

• Collate data on key attributes of the target NTD to inform an ideal PVS system.
• Assemble information on potentially compatible existing surveillance systems.
• Identify compatible surveillance systems that best fit the PVS needs of the target NTD.
• Provide a framework to assess feasibility of integrating with compatible surveillance systems.
• Support the development of an integrated PVS plan.
• Provide a framework for evaluating the success of integration. Support advocacy to identify funding for integrated PVS for NTDs.

The ultimate end product for users of the toolkit is an actionable plan for conducting integrated PVS of a target NTD, as well as the protocols and standard operating procedures required to implement the integrated PVS plan. For more details on the specific mechanisms and principles of conducting integrated surveillance, please consult the Integrated disease surveillance and response technical guidelines, third edition.