Impact of the Implementation of Laboratory Information System (WWDISA) on Timely Provision of HIV-1 Viral Load Results in a Rural Area, Inhambane, Mozambique.

WWDISA is an optional module of the DISA Laboratory Information system (LIS) that offers a web portal that allows access to test results over the internet for patient clinical management. This study aims to assess the applicability of using the WWDISA web application, and the lessons learned from its implementation in six health facilities in Mabote district, Inhambane province. Data from 2463 and 665 samples for HIV-viral load (HIVVL) tests, extracted from paper-based and WWDISA systems, respectively, were included, from January to December 2020. Data were simultaneously collected on a quarterly basis from both systems to allow comparison. The WWDISA turnaround time (TAT) from sample collection to results becoming available was found to be 10 (IQR: 8−12) days and significantly lower than the health unit manual logbook (p value < 0.001). Regarding the system efficiency, it was found that among 1978 search results, only 642 (32.5%) were found, and the main challenges according to the users were lack of connectivity (77%) and the website going down (62%). The WWDISA module has been shown to be effective in reducing the TAT, although a stable internet connection and accurate data entry are essential to make the system functional.

Profile of people seeking health services during Pope Francis' visit to Mozambique, 2019.

Pope Francis visited Mozambique from September 4-6, 2019. During the visit, a real-time surveillance system for mass gathering events was implemented in all places where people gathered in Maputo City for early detection of possible outbreaks and other health-related events. The system was implemented at four sites were mass gathering events occurred over the three-day visit. Data were collected by administering a simple questionnaire on a tablet, which collected information about sociodemographics, syndromic diagnoses, and outcomes of the patients that sought medical care. Additionally, a descriptive epidemiological assessment was performed during the event. A total of 150 individuals were attended at the designated places during the event. Of these, 56.7% were female and 90.7% aged > 15 years. The majority of the patients (74.7%) sought care on the third day of the event, which was held at the Zimpeto National Stadium. The most common diagnoses were hypertension (20.7%), hypothermia (15.3%), and headache (11.3%). Almost all cases (95.0%) were discharged, (4.0%) cases were transferred and (1.0%) case resulted in death on the way to the health facility. The surveillance system strategy developed to detect real-time public health events during the Pope?s visit was successfully implemented. No outbreak was identified during the event.

Epidemiological profile of health consultations during the Mozambique 9th National Cultural Festival, August 2016.

INTRODUCTION: The use of mass gatherings as spaces to practice health surveillance has been growing in recent years. In Mozambique, the 9th National Festival of Culture in 2016 was selected for this practice. A specific public health surveillance system to facilitate rapid detection of outbreaks and other health-related events was implemented for this event with real time data collection and analysis. METHODS: A descriptive epidemiological evaluation of all the health consultations that occurred in fixed posts prepared for the event was conducted. The data were collected through electronic mobile system (tablets) in real time, with the aid of a form designed for this purpose and sent directly to the incident command system (ICS). RESULTS: During the event, a total of 355 patients were assisted, 52.3% were female, 87.0% were from Beira city and the artists were the group that most frequently sought health care at 59.4%. The largest number of visits took place on the third day (36.4%). People over 45 years of age were the age group that most frequently sought health care (30.8%). The main provisional diagnoses of those who were attended to during the festival was arterial hypertension (20.3%), followed by febrile syndrome (19.0%), with falls being the most frequent causes of trauma during the festival (60.0%). CONCLUSION: The system of monitoring in real time using mobile technologies proved to be efficient for the monitoring of the main health events during the mass gatherings. This profile of health consultations encourages the health sector to plan strategies and actions geared to the reality of care for this type of event.

Profile of people seeking health services during Pope Francis' visit to Mozambique, 2019

Pope Francis visited Mozambique from September 4-6, 2019. During the visit, a real-time surveillance system for mass gathering events was implemented in all places where people gathered in Maputo City for early detection of possible outbreaks and other health-related events. The system was implemented at four sites were mass gathering events occurred over the three-day visit. Data were collected by administering a simple questionnaire on a tablet, which collected information about sociodemographics, syndromic diagnoses, and outcomes of the patients that sought medical care. Additionally, a descriptive epidemiological assessment was performed during the event. A total of 150 individuals were attended at the designated places during the event. Of these, 56.7% were female and 90.7% aged > 15 years. The majority of the patients (74.7%) sought care on the third day of the event, which was held at the Zimpeto National Stadium. The most common diagnoses were hypertension (20.7%), hypothermia (15.3%), and headache (11.3%). Almost all cases (95.0%) were discharged, (4.0%) cases were transferred and (1.0%) case resulted in death on the way to the health facility. The surveillance system strategy developed to detect real-time public health events during the Popes visit was successfully implemented. No outbreak was identified during the event.