Developing an Event-Based Surveillance and Response Network in Migrant Communities

Abstract

Immigrant workers from neighboring countries were considered as an important risk group for the spread of diseases to Thais living in areas where the disease surveillance had limitations. Consequently between 2015-2016, this project to form a network of event-based surveillance for migrant workers by organizing workshops and by applying a set of tools to report disease transmission. This project aimed to develop surveillance networking and to improve the ability of the Migrant Health Volunteers (MHVs) to communicate with the government sectors when abnormal situations were detected. Design of the study was a qualitative research by applying a process of PAR to emphasize experimentation grounded in the communities’ experiences in 3 provinces of Pathum Thani, Sa Kaeo, and Chiang Rai.  The instruments were: 1) creation of five-language guidelines; 2) development of a reporting program; 3) provision of a curriculum and training for MHVs; 4) launch of a session in lessons learned and learning exhibition after ending the project. There were 2 courses to train 124 MHVs participants by training in the same curriculum. The post-test was given when the training was finished. The average training scores increased from 73% in the first training course to 87% in the refreshing course and 24 unusual events were reported in the program. The lesson learned and the rhetorical exhibition after ending the project highlighted problems and challenges. A critical problem was that no abnormal situations were entered into the program after beginning of this project. Thus, the site visits and a refreshing course were performed especially to bring more stakeholders to attend the activities. Moreover, close monitoring and evaluation were performed to continually strengthen the migrant worker network. The guidelines for MHVs could provide for a greater understanding of surveillance activities and health care of the migrant workers. Information sharing and reporting systems supported a strengthened surveillance network and prompt disease control from the central administration to the local settings. Finally, all tangible products obtained from this project could be applied and expanded to other migrant communities.